Dale Selwyn Murphy awaits legal aid in stalking charges
A man in his 60s charged with stalking had to be reprimanded by the magistrate, who said his matters required careful legal consideration.
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A Mackay Magistrate had to tell an alleged stalker to be silent after he began rambling about the case against him.
“Let’s just set some ground rules; when I talk you don’t talk,” Magistrate Bronwyn Hartigan told the 63 year old.
Dale Selwyn Murphy appeared by video from Mackay watch-house where he is remanded charged with stalking a woman from November 18 to December 3 in 2023, and possession of a used drug utensil.
Mackay Magistrates Court heard Mr Murphy had previously been sentenced in February of 2024 for other matters and could have had the charges dealt with then.
Police prosecutor Ruth Whisker said Murphy’s previous charges include possessing dangerous drugs, attempted escape from lawful custody and serious assault.
When Ms Hartigan tried to ask Murphy why the stalking charges had not been resolved in February, he mumbled an unintelligible answer towards the floor interrupting Ms Hartigan as she insisted he speak clearly.
“Shh – stop, stop stop,” she said.
“When I talk you don’t talk and when you talk I don’t talk, but it’s my time to talk so just listen please.
“There’s quite a bit in this so I’m glad you applied for Legal Aid, you might not end up with any further imprisonment because this could have been dealt with at the time.
“So a lawyer needs to look at this very carefully and then you need to take some legal advice.”
Ms Hartigan said a Legal Aid grant would be in place in about four weeks and adjourned Murphy’s matters to June 26.
Murphy again mumbled unintelligibly before turning his back to the watch-house cell camera, leading Ms Hartigan to quip “yes he seems very grateful”.
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Originally published as Dale Selwyn Murphy awaits legal aid in stalking charges
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