Man fined over Instagram death threat to Newcastle NRL player James Schiller

Australia Broadcast Center

6 days ago

A Hunter Valley man has been convicted and fined in a New South Wales court after pleading guilty to sending an NRL player a death threat on social media.
Joseph Baldwin, 20, was arrested and charged in June after screenshots of graphic messages he sent to Newcastle Knights winger James Schiller on Instagram were circulated online.
Schiller, 24, received the messages on social media after a game against the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles on June 5 at Hunter Stadium.
The messages included, "Count your days … I will end your f***ing life".
Baldwin was arrested a week later and charged with using a carriage service to menace, harass or offend.
In Belmont local court on Wednesday, Baldwin pleaded guilty to the charge.
In sentencing, Magistrate Stephen Barlow expressed his shock at the graphic nature of the messages, which included a "direct threat to end his [Schiller's] life".
"More than harsh, they're actually quite threatening," he said.
"The victim was concerned for his own safety, and the safety of his family.
Baldwin's lawyer Robert Williams asked the court to consider not recording a conviction, to allow him to "continue his life with an unblemished record".
But Magistrate Barlow recorded a conviction over the charges, and fined Baldwin $750.
Prior to sentencing, Mr Williams asked the magistrate to allow his client to be excused from entering the courthouse, arguing there was "intimidating media" outside.
However, Mr Williams later agreed Baldwin would need to approach and enter the court to deal with the matter in person.
Magistrate Barlow said the charges against Baldwin included a "concerning death threat" made to Mr Schiller "on the basis that he hasn't played well enough in a rugby league game".
The court heard Baldwin was extremely remorseful and apologetic over the messages.
"He will never send a message like this again," Mr Williams said.
The defence lawyer also told the court Baldwin wanted to write Schiller a "very sincere letter of apology", if that would be welcomed by the victim.
Two character references were handed up to the court, which Magistrate Barlow said detailed Baldwin as a "reliable and level-headed young man".
The magistrate accepted he was young and immature, but said athletes in the public eye should be able to feel safe at work and in the community.
"Just because he is someone who is a public figure, doesn't mean he should have to have a more resilient personality than anyone [else] in the community," Magistrate Barlow said.