news, crime

A former journalist has been locked up after allegedly posting threats online to kill members of a Canberra church by cutting off their heads. James Michael Waugh, 28, of Griffith, was arrested on Tuesday after a tip off to the National Security Hotline alerted police to Mr Waugh's online posts. In one post, Mr Waugh allegedly threatened to kill members of the Canberra House of Prayer and posted his own address inviting members to confront him. "I'm going to kill every single one of you dog polytheist c----," a post allegedly written by Mr Waugh read. The court heard Mr Waugh had also allegedly purchased a one-metre long scimitar style sword, which he had sharpened, and had allegedly posted a threat to use it to cut off people's heads. Mr Waugh has been charged with possessing an object with the intent to kill or cause grievous bodily harm, using a carriage service in a menacing manner and making threats to kill. He has not entered pleas. Documents tendered in court showed the National Security Hotline tip off warned of a message allegedly sent by Mr Waugh to numerous people where he stated "I've bought a scimitar and intend to cut their heads off in my front yard as a reprisal". "I have issued threats, along with my name and address, to every coward dog church in Canberra," it read. Mr Waugh's defence lawyer made an application for bail on his behalf saying he would be willing to stay off social media and the internet. His lawyer told the court that his behaviour was not at such a level that he posed an immediate threat to the community and the fact he possessed religious beliefs did not translate to acting upon them. However, the prosecutor told the court that if Mr Waugh was released there was a likelihood he would act upon his alleged threats and he posed a risk to the community. Mr Waugh had been taken away on Wednesday for an assessment with mental health professionals. This determined there was no mental illness present explaining his actions, the court heard. The prosecutor said Mr Waugh demonstrated a clear manifestation and planning to act with the intention of harming others based on his extreme religious beliefs. She reiterated the mental health assessment determined that "he simply believes these things". The court documents stated that during a police interview Mr Waugh admitted to making the threatening posts towards Christian churches and that if people attacked him he would use his scimitar to behead people. Magistrate Bernadette Boss refused to grant bail to Mr Waugh acknowledging he had allegedly made specific threats to a specific group of people and that the opinion of experts was that he posed a threat to the community. She said no bail conditions could adequately lower that risk. Mr Waugh will reappear in court later this month.

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