Regina Ames, accused author of anti-Semitic letters to synagogues, now facing assault charges: Court

A woman accused of sending eight anti-Semitic letters has been further accused of assault and stalking but in a strange twist of events, refused to sign documents that would release her from jail.

Regina Ames has been brought before the court on alleged assault, stalking and sending menacing letters to Melbourne synagogues. Picture: Valeriu Campan

A woman accused of sending eight threatening letters to synagogues across Melbourne has been hauled back into court on fresh charges.

Regina Ames appeared in the Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on July 2 and again on July 3, after refusing to sign her own bail agreement.

The court heard police had deemed Ms Ames appropriate for bail, however she refused to sign for her own release.

Ms Ames appeared in the dock on Wednesday, ranting to the court she would “rather die in custody”.

“Everything the police have written is lies,” she yelled.

“If I get released I won’t come back to court. I’m not signing.”

Ms Ames pleaded not guilty to allegations she sent “menacing letters” to eight synagogues across Melbourne via Australia Post. Picture: Blake Foden

The court heard Ms Ames, already accused of using the post in a manner which would be regarded as menacing, has also been charged with an alleged unlawful assault and stalking.

In early May, she entered a plea of not guilty after being accused of sending eight handwritten letters to eight Melbourne synagogues, including the Leo Baeck Centre in Kew.

Instead of denying sending the letters, Ms Ames denied the letters to be threatening.

The letters, read to the court, stated various anti-Semitic messages, including “it’s a pity Hitler didn’t finish with your Jewish hearts”.

Ms Ames was identified by counter-terrorism police through fingerprint technology.

Ms Ames refused to sign her own bail release on Wednesday, saying she “would rather die in custody”.

“I didn’t menace, I wrote them the truth. I only told them what happened to them,” Ms Ames told the court.

On Wednesday, despite Magistrate Nunzio La Rosa’s best efforts, Ms Ames kept ranting that she “would rather die in custody” and that she “didn’t need a lawyer”.

“I won’t come to court if I get out,” she said.

Mr La Rosa remanded Ms Ames in police custody, deeming her at risk of not attending if she was released.

Ms Ames will front Dandenong Court again on Friday to face the allegations.