Regina Ames accused of sending anti-Semitic letters to eight synagogues
A woman accused of sending eight anti-Semitic letters to eight Melbourne synagogues including the sentence “It’s a pity Hitler didn’t finish with your Jewish hearts”.
South East
Don't miss out on the headlines from South East . Followed categories will be added to My News.
A woman accused of sending eight threatening letters to synagogues across Melbourne has told a court she was “only telling them the truth”.
Regina Ames entered a not guilty plea in the Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on May 6, to one charge of using the post in a manner which would be regarded as menacing.
Police allege Ms Ames sent the eight handwritten letters to eight synagogues across Melbourne, including the Leo Baeck Centre in Kew.
The letter was read to the court, stating “It’s a pity Hitler didn’t finish with your Jewish hearts”.
Ms Ames allegedly sent the letters on March 20 in 2023 from the Casey Central branch of Australia Post.
After the first letter was reported to police, a counter-terrorism investigation found a fingerprint allegedly linking Ms Ames to the letters.
The court heard Ms Ames admitted to sending the letters in an interview with police and that she “didn’t want to see anything Jewish”.
Police allege Ms Ames denied the letters were menacing.
In court on Monday, Ms Ames said she “would not shut her mouth”.
“I sent all the letters on the same day, I’m prepared to die to keep saying it,” she said.
“I didn’t menace, I wrote them the truth. I only told them what happened to them.”
Magistrate Jacinta Studham warned Ms Ames of the gravity of the charge she faced.
“You could spend up to two years in jail for this charge,” Ms Studham said.
Ms Ames doubled down saying “it doesn’t matter”.
“I’ve spent time in custody before, I’m prepared to die for what I said.”
Despite admitting to sending the letters in open court, Ms Ames pleaded not guilty, due to her belief the letters “were not menacing”.
The court heard Ms Ames refuse encouragement to seek legal advice ahead of the next date.
Ms Studham adjourned the matter to May 28 for a contest mention.
