Man faces charges after threatening to kill court security officer
Eureka AU July 7 2018
A Eureka man accused of threatening to kill a court security officer was on bail at the time, charged with multiple assault offences.
Police allege Donald Johns, 32, was at the Ballarat Law Courts on June 25 supporting his partner when he made multiple threats from opposite the Grenville Street building.
Informant Leading Senior Constable Ben Jones told the Ballarat Magistrates Court on Friday the security officer was on the building’s concourse when Johns yelled, “the next time I see you, you will have a bullet in your head”, and “you are dead, c***”.
He said the security officer was a witness in a court case involving Johns, however defence lawyer David Tamanika said it was an assumption his client knew the officer was a witness.
“It appears Mr Johns had seen (the security officer) restraining (his partner) on the day. This may be an alternative why he threatened him,” Mr Tamanika said.
The court was told the father-of-two was on bail for allegedly assaulting a water authority employee, Hungary Jacks employee and his neighbour.
Police opposed Johns’ bail application on Friday, saying he was an unacceptable risk of reoffending.
Prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Steve Kent said Johns was on four sets of bail and he was still offending, including assaults on community members.
“Based on his history and current offending he has shown very little inclination to follow directions of the court,” Leading Senior Constable Kent said.
But magistrate Gregory Robinson said Johns had shown compelling reasons why he should be granted bail.
He said Johns’ children needed his support because his partner was also in custody, he had a stable address and he was suitable for the Court Integrated Services Program.
Johns was bailed to reappear later this month.
He faces a string of charges stemming from separate incidents including assault, making threats to kill, harassing a witness, committing an indictable offence while on bail and careless driving.
