Protest organiser Tony Pecora to challenge incitement charge
The organiser of a Melbourne lockdown protest told police world banks genetically engineered COVID-19 to kill off weak humans and plans to fight charges of incitement.
Police & Courts
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The organiser of the anti-lockdown “Melbourne Freedom Walk” plans to fight charges of incitement, claiming people have a right to express their political views.
Tony Pecora — a former candidate for Clive Palmer’s United Australia Party — fronted Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday where his lawyer Joel Tito asked for the case to be booked in for a contested hearing.
“The crux of it is this — Mr Pecora intends on pleading not guilty,” Mr Tito said.
He said they would be challenging the validity of the Public Health and Wellbeing Act that is being used to force people to stay at home due to COVID-19 “in terms of people leaving home to express their political views”.
Mr Pecora, 43, from Middle Park, was arrested by police ahead of the anti-lockdown protest being planned for September 12 at The Tan in South Yarra.
Police allege Mr Pecora had attended two anti-lockdown rallies in Melbourne and used fake Facebook profile, “Arkwell Tripelligo”, to set up an event page on the social platform to organise the Melbourne Freedom Walk.
During his police interview, Mr Pecora told investigators it was a “legal walk” for people to “get healthy” and “talk about getting our freedoms back”.
He said he believed the coronavirus numbers were “highly exaggerated” and it was a “genetically engineered virus by the world banks to kill off weaker humans”.
Mr Pecora was bailed on the eve of the planned protest on strict conditions he did not attend gatherings and abided by the chief health officer’s directions.
The father of one was also banned from using social media and the internet.
Magistrate Felicity Broughton said she would adjourn the case to February 2, extending Mr Pecora’s bail on the same terms and conditions.
But she raised concerns as to the absence of Mr Pecora’s signature on the bail bond form.
“I have no idea how he could have been released from St Kilda Police station without having signed his bail bond,” she said.
Asking Mr Pecora if he had signed it, he said: “It was a pretty dramatic period. I don’t recall signing anything.”
Ms Broughton said he would have to sign it immediately or he could face being locked up.
She had granted him bail earlier this month, saying it would be a “grave injustice” to keep him behind bars for a crime that does not carry a punishment of imprisonment.
The maximum penalty for the offence of incitement is a fine of up to $19,000.
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