John McNeill, of Avalon Beach, charged with sending offensive emails to MP Alex Greenwich
A Sydney musician allegedly used his ageing Motorola mobile to send a series of offensive emails to a high profile MP. Here’s the latest as he faced court.
NSW
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A northern beaches’ musician allegedly used his ageing Motorola mobile phone to fire off a series of offensive emails to high profile NSW MP Alex Greenwich.
John McNeill, 69, of Avalon Beach, is alleged to have sent the six messages while he was in Darlinghurst in January, Manly Local Court heard on Tuesday.
Greenwich, an independent member of parliament, has an electorate office on Oxford St, Darlinghurst.
Police arrested McNeill at Dee Why police station about a week after the emails were allegedly sent from his phone.
He was charged with one count of using a carriage service to menace, harass or offend.
Police have also took out a preliminary apprehended violence order for Mr Greenwich’s protection.
In documents tendered to court, police alleged that McNeill sent the emails to the MP between 9.17am and 9.20am on January 16.
They alleged he used the “email service in such a way that a reasonable person would regard that use as being menacing, harassing or offensive”.
Magistrate Daniel Reiss was told that the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions may elect to prosecute the case in the NSW District Court.
McNeill, who is yet to enter a plea, is on strict bail with conditions including that he not enter Surry Hills without a reasonable excuse.
He also cannot contact or approach the MP.
The court was told that McNeill had made an application to have his telephone, seized by police for forensic examination, returned to him.
An application document tendered to court noted that McNeill wanted the phone because it contained business contacts. Magistrate Reiss was also told the phone contained notes that McNeill needed in a separate civil court case.
A solicitor for the Commonwealth DPP said she could not confirm that police had completed their tests on McNeill’s phone.
Mr Reiss adjourned the matter, and the application for the phone to be returned, for mention to the Downing Centre Local Court on April 15.
The MP has represented the state seat of Sydney since 2012 after replacing now-Lord Mayor Clover Moore.
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Originally published as John McNeill, of Avalon Beach, charged with sending offensive emails to MP Alex Greenwich
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