Cyber stalker Robert Friscic threatened to kill George Pell, hurt Premier Daniel Andrews

A cyber menace promised George Pell would be raped and killed in prison but the cardinal wasn’t his only target.

Robert Friscic has been sentenced after sending a number of disturbing emails, including threats made to Cardinal George Pell. Picture: Victor Sokolowicz.

A cyber stalker threatened Cardinal George Pell was a dead duck in jail who would be raped by the “big boys”, a court has heard.

Robert Friscic, 50, was sentenced in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday to a good behaviour bond after pleading guilty to multiple counts of making a threat to kill.

Friscic flooded Corrections Victoria, Pell’s legal team and other state government offices with disturbing and menacing emails between December 2019 and July last year.

“George Pell is a dead duck, put him in with the big boys so they can teach him a lesson take him out of protection all child molesters and rapist (sic) and muders (sic) should be hanged I am going to spray paint on the prison wall about George pell (sic) the prison system is a joke,” Friscic said in an email to the Melbourne Assessment Prison.

Friscic was arrested and charged but released after apologising to police, saying he was just “angry” because former Prime Minister Tony Abbott had visited Pell in custody.

Friscic later turned his anger to Pell’s legal team.

“Your client George pell (sic) is going to get bashed tonight he will die in prison … pay back time … there is a bomb in George pell (sic) cell,” Friscic told Sydney’s St James Hall Chambers in March last year.

Robert Friscic

Friscic, who also pleaded guilty to making a bomb hoax, fired more messages to Corrections Victoria.

“George pell (sic) is going to die tonight,” an email read.

The bulk of Friscic’s emails were sent while Pell was in custody at Barwon Prison, the court heard.

Friscic was arrested, charged and bailed again but the cyber-menace later lined up Premier Daniel Andrews, Health Minister Martin Foley and the North Richmond injecting room.

The prolific pest sent 62 emails to state government addresses while Victoria was entering and in the COVID-19 lockdown between July and August last year.

Friscic threatened to harm Mr Andrews if he or his family caught coronavirus.

He also menaced Minister Foley via email and complained about drug users still being able to access safe injecting rooms outside curfew hours.

“The drug injection rooms are going to be vandalised, spray painted and windows smashed,” one email read.

Friscic also rang the injecting room and told a staffer he was coming down to trash the joint.

“Why are you an essential service,” Friscic said.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews was also targeted.

Friscic later told police he blamed Premier Andrews for the COVID-19 lockdown and the safe injecting room should have a curfew.

“I am angry at the government lying,” Friscic said.

Friscic’s lawyer said her client suffered from an intellectual disability and battled post traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and grief after he was subjected to abuse as a child.

“He believed he was exercising his free speech … he also expressed his frustration at the current time (in lockdown),” she said.

Magistrate Julie Grainger noted Friscic was actively seeking help to address his “significant” childhood trauma.

“You must find other ways with dealing with your anger and hurt,” she said.

“It’s about protecting who you’re writing to from psychological and physical harm … it would be very distressing for someone to be receiving an email like that.”

Magistrate Grainger took into account Friscic’s childhood trauma and mental health issues when sparing him an immediate jail term.

“It’s understandable (someone with your issues) why you have struggled with COVID conditions and wrote to people dealing with the Pell case,” she said.

“It’s the old adage, two wrongs don't make a right, Mr Friscic.”

The prosecution said victim impact statements were sought from the victims but none were provided.

Friscic, of Brunswick, was convicted and placed on an 18-month adjourned undertaking.

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