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ABC News
28 minutes ago
- ABC News
Magistrate condemns 'terribly frightening' death threat to Senator Fatima Payman
A western Victorian man has been released on bail after threatening to kill Independent senator Fatima Payman via email. WARNING: This article includes racist, violent and offensive language. Sean David Sharman, 51, of Ballarat, faced court after pleading guilty to using a carriage service to make a threat to kill. Sharman emailed Senator Payman twice in March in a communication the judge condemned as "disgraceful, racist and xenophobic". Sharman appeared in the Ballarat Magistrate's Court on Tuesday, supported by his wife. In one email, Sharman allegedly called Senator Payman "a domestic terrorist" and said she should not hold office in Australia. "Call me Racist all you want c**t. But there is a 38Cal with your name on it coming for your muslim hateful waste of oxygen c**t head VERY SOON," Sharman wrote in the email. "You and your muslim lot should go back to the desert, you lot have destroyed Australia." Mr Sharman then signed off "Best Wishes, Sean". It's understood "38Cal" refers to a .38 calibre bullet. Sharman pleaded guilty to the charge on June 24. The court heard Sharman sent his full name and address in another email in an attempt to "show I was a real person and not some bot." In a written victim impact statement from Senator Payman read to court, she said the "threats and vile language" had a significant impact on her physical, emotional and mental health. She said she felt "scared and deeply unsettled" after receiving the emails and was afraid to travel to Victoria as a result. In her statement, Senator Payman said the email was a personal attack on her and other Muslim women. "Actions have consequences and this behaviour should not be minimised," Senator Payman said. Police searched Sharman's home and arrested him in April. The court heard Sharman was compliant with police requests, allowed officers to enter the premises and provided the password to his laptop and email. His lawyer told the court her client was unemployed and suffered from various medical issues, including alcoholism. She said Sharman was "very embarrassed" by his behaviour, which the defence lawyer categorised as serious. The court heard he had no prior convictions and that he was trying to avoiod news or political views that reinforced his previous behaviour. The court heard he did not recall sending the emails due to his alcohol use at the time. Sharman was on a waitlist for detox services at Ballarat Community Health, his lawyer told the court. Magistrate Julia Barling said Sharman's email was "disgraceful, racist, xenophobic, [and contained] terribly frightening comments". "It is very concerning to me that someone with no prior history lashes out to the point they are behaving in this way," the judge said. Sharman's sentencing was deferred to allow him to attend detox. He was released on bail under the condition he had no contact or communication with Senator Payman or anyone from her office. A pre-sentencing report and broader assessment report were requested. Sharman is scheduled to return to court in November.
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
Central Coast mum accused of sexually assaulting teen granted bail
A mother has been accused of sexually assaulting a teenage boy who was friends with her son after the teens spent a night drinking vodka and eating pizza at her home. The woman, 38, is alleged to have had sex with the 15-year-old boy at her Central Coast house in May after finding the child lying on her bed. Court documents tendered to the NSW Supreme Court allege the woman began touching the boy's face and chest before sliding her hand down to his genitalia. She then climbed on top of the boy and initiated sex with him before asking the child to 'do her 'doggy style' and the victim felt pressured into complying', the documents allege. The woman, who can't be identified, was granted bail last week after her lawyers argued there would be 'triable issues' to be heard in court. Those included her knowledge of the boy's age – whether she thought he was 15 or 16 – and arguments regarding consent. There was also dispute about where the boy was sleeping. The woman has been charged with two counts of aggravated sexual assault of a person under 16 and one of intentionally sexually touching a child. A Crown prosecutor told the court last week it would not be argued that the woman had a sexual interest in children. 'It is conceded that there may be a triable issue with respect to consent and knowledge,' police documents state. 'Nonetheless, even if the issue of consent and knowledge were put to one side, the acts alleged still amount to criminal conduct. 'The applicant would have known the age of the complainant given his friendship with the applicant's son.' The court heard claims the boy was 'showing off or bragging about the alleged acts' before any complaint was made to police. Court documents state that when the boy's mother found out about the incident in June, she confronted the woman at her home and 'punched the accused in the face'. 'During this confrontation, the accused said she did not know where the victim slept and assumed it was on the couch,' the documents state. Details of the night in question, contained in the court documents, allege the woman's son and the complainant had spent the day with a group of friends. The group asked the woman to buy them alcohol but she 'told them she had enough at home already'. The woman told the alleged victim's mother over FaceTime 'it was fine for the victim to stay over, and that they would just be hanging out, and doing the ice bucket challenge'. 'The victim and the group of friends were given access to two one-litre bottles of vodka by the accused, who continued to drink wine,' the documents allege. 'The victim and group of friends all shared the one-litre bottles of vodka until there was none left, with the victim consuming 300 – 400mL himself.' The woman's son also used her phone to order pizzas from Dominos. Later on the group were 'jumping around' on the woman's bed and her son and the alleged victim lay down after the others went to bed. Her son left the room around 11pm with the alleged victim remaining, the documents state. 'A short time later the accused entered the room where the victim remained by himself,' the court documents allege. 'The victim was intoxicated at this point, however, knew where he was and saw the accused enter the room. 'Upon entering the room, the accused turned off the light and got into bed with the victim.' It is alleged the woman the alleged victim fell asleep on the bed together after the incident. Other members of the group later told police the boy did not sleep in the loungeroom or in the bedroom of the woman's son, according to the court documents. Justice Paul McGuire granted the woman bail, saying the case could not be assessed as 'overwhelmingly strong'. He said it would be the 'complainant's word against the applicant's word'. Justice McGuire ordered a $30,000 surety be lodged to ensure the woman appeared before her upcoming court dates.
SBS Australia
an hour ago
- SBS Australia
Police reveal baby found in drain was newborn boy, mother urged to come forward
Homicide detectives have pleaded for a mother to come forward amid concerns for her health after a newborn baby boy was found dead in a stormwater drain in Perth. A newborn baby boy found dead in a suburban stormwater drain was placed there in recent days before being discovered, police say. Two workers carrying out routine maintenance made the confronting discovery in Perth's northern suburbs on Monday afternoon. "The baby down the stormwater drain is, in fact, a little baby boy," detective senior sergeant Stephen Cleal told reporters on Tuesday. "Evidence suggests it is a newborn child ... [and] that the little boy came to be in that location only in recent days." There was no evidence to suggest the boy was washed through the drain, detective senior sergeant Stephen Cleal said. Source: AAP / ABC "What we believe is the child was placed in that drain at that location on La Salle Road in Alexander Heights," Cleal said. 'Priority' to help the mother Homicide detectives made an urgent plea for the baby's mother to come forward amid concerns for her health. "We want to help that mother. That is our priority," Cleal said. Investigators are working with hospitals and medical centres in a bid to find the mother. "This is a highly distressing and confronting situation for the community ... in that I include the two workmen that come across this shocking and confronting scene," Cleal said. "We are working with them and my heart goes out to those two." Workers were clearing the drain of debris and checking for blockages when the "chance discovery" was made. Police have urged people with information about the incident or CCTV recorded in the area to come forward. Readers seeking support can ring Lifeline crisis support on 13 11 14 or text 0477 13 11 14, Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 and Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 (for young people aged 5 to 25). More information is available at and .
