Virus conspiracist charged over lockdown protest plans
Assistant Commissioner Luke Cornelius says he feels like a “dog returning to eat his own vomit” as protesters plan more lockdown rallies in Melbourne. It comes after a coronavirus conspiracy theorist was charged by police over a planned “Freedom Walk”.
Police & Courts
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A top cop says he feels like a “dog returning to eat his own vomit” having to plead with protesters to stay at home for a second consecutive weekend.
Assistant Commissioner Luke Cornelius said the force was ready for Saturday’s “Freedom Walk” rally, as well as other protests on Sunday.
“Bring on the day,” Assistant Commissioner Cornelius said.
“Please don’t leave home to engage in protest activity. Don’t take us for fools, we will call you to account.
“This doesn’t mean people can’t voice their opinions — be the keyboard warrior, voice your protest online. Be creative. Don’t leave home to engage in protest. Anyone planning to participate, please stop it.”
He revealed a number of people had been “put on notice” by being issued warnings regarding this weekend’s protests.
He said police were frustrated by the repeated strain on resources these protests dealt.
“I feel like a dog returning to eat his own vomit,” he said.
“I’m sick of it. It is incredibly frustrating.”
Mr Cornelius said police had seen a “colourful spectrum” of people involved in protests this year.
“We’re issue blind on this, this isn’t about targeting different groups,” he said.
“We’re not interested in your reason, we are interested in holding you to account.
“If people choose to ignore our warning, they should be prepared for a strong police presence in the city and surrounding areas.”
It comes after another anti-lockdown coronavirus conspiracy theorist was charged over a proposed “Melbourne Freedom Walk” planned for Saturday.
Police arrested self proclaimed “independence fighter” Tony Pecora, 42, in relation to incitement on Thursday.
Pecora was dropped by Clive Palmer as his party’s candidate for the seat of Melbourne at the last federal election after he outed himself as a September 11 terror attack conspiracy theorist.
Detectives executed a search warrant at Pecora’s Beaconsfield Parade home in Middle Park following an “ongoing investigation” into the “co-ordination and encouragement of protest activity” this weekend.
Mr Pecora, 43, faced Melbourne Magistrates’ Court via video link from St Kilda police station just after midday charged with two counts of incitement.
Magistrate Felicity Broughton said it would be a “grave injustice” to keep Tony Pecora locked up for a crime that does not have a punishment of imprisonment.
But she said strict conditions were required to ensure he didn’t further offend.
She ordered that he not attend gatherings and prohibited him from attending the Kings Domain area that incorporates The Tan, where he was planning a rally on Saturday.
He must also comply with all current directions of the chief health officer, she said.
Ms Broughton made it a condition that he provide details of all internet-enabled devices in his possession to police.
If he breached and came back before the court, she warned that a charge of contravening bail carries a maximum three-month jail term.
“Now, do you understand that?” Ms Broughton said.
“Yes,” Mr Pecora said.
The court heard Mr Pecora had limited priors which involved driving, dishonesty and wilful damage to property offences.
He also was the director of three companies with 11 employees in the renewable energy industry field.
Mr Pecora will have to return to court on September 25.
The court heard Mr Pecora had attended two recent anti-lockdown rallies in Melbourne and was responsible for setting up a Facebook page to organise the Melbourne Walk for Freedom at The Tan in South Yarra on Saturday.
He told police it was a “legal walk” for people to “get healthy” and “talk about getting our freedoms back”.
Detective Acting Senior Sergeant David Schaefer, from Port Phillip CIU, told the court that Mr Pecora also “accepted that the attendees may not social distance or wear face masks” in breach of the chief health officer’s directions.
“Better to die on your feet, than live on your knees,” Detective Schaefer alleged Mr Pecora said in a reference to a Midnight Oil song.
Detective Schaefer said Mr Pecora was at “genuine risk” of contracting COVID-19 and spreading the virus further among our community.
“He’s indicated and demonstrated that he will continue to disregard all chief health officer directions,” Detective Schaefer said.
“Such conduct, as demonstrated by the applicant, puts others lives at risk. He is inciting others to also disregard directions.”
Suggestions by Mr Pecora’s lawyer Christopher Wareham that a curfew condition could be imposed did not ameliorate the officer’s concerns.
“These public rallies are being conducted on the weekend in daylight hours,” Detective Schaefer said.
He said Mr Pecora had been warned and received multiple infringements for his breaches yet continued to break the law.
The court heard he also tried to stop police by accessing his phone, by burying it at the front of his solicitor’s place.
Mr Wareham argued the crimes alleged against his client had a maximum penalty of a fine of up to $19,000, but were not punishable by jail.
“So you think it appropriate that a man is remanded in custody where the underlying offence has no penalty of imprisonment?” he asked the detective.
The bail application was adjourned for lunch and will continue at 3pm.
Mr Pecora’s social media pages boast an enthusiasm for changing the Australian flag, as well as a passion to move Australia from a monarchy to a constitutional republic.
More than a thousand anti-lockdown protesters could rally again at the Tan on Saturday.
The “Melbourne Freedom Walk” was organised on Facebook but the page was shut down by the platform.
Before its closure the event gained interest from more than 1400 people and was described by organisers as a “legal walk, allowing citizens to come together, get healthy and talk about getting our freedoms back”.
A second secret protest has also been planned for the City of Melbourne on Sunday.
The location of the demonstration will be kept secret until an hour before the event to keep authorities at bay.
Victoria Police said it is “aware and monitoring” the potential protests organised for the weekend.
“We are currently making a number of inquiries in relation to this and remain in the process of planning our operational response,” a police spokesperson said.
“It remains very clear that under Stage 4 Restrictions protest activity cannot occur, with any individual deliberately and blatantly breaching the Chief Health Officer’s directives liable for a fine of $1652.
“This weekend, like every other day until leaving home to protest is permitted under the Chief Health Officer directions, we will be monitoring potential public protest activity in order to prevent this while it remains unlawful.
“Victoria Police maintains a strong capacity to respond at any point in time.
“Once again over this weekend we will have resources committed to ensuring that people who deliberately put public health and safety at risk by breaching the directions receive fines or are arrested, if necessary.”
Police arrested 17 people who took part in anti-lockdown protests at the Shrine of Remembrance and Albert Park Lake last Saturday.
One man was charged with assaulting police and more than 180 fines were issued to people for breaching health orders.
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