Man accused of threat to kill MP to stay in custody

Rex Martinich | July 14, 2023

A man accused of threatening to kill a federal MP will spend at least the weekend behind bars following a brief court hearing in Queensland.

Simon Geoffrey Raymond, 39, of no fixed address, has been in custody since being arrested by the federal police at Brisbane Airport on Tuesday.

Raymond was charged with two counts of using a carriage service to make a threat to kill and five counts of using carriage service to menace.

Some of the charges related to emails sent to National Party MP Anne Webster, who holds the seat of Mallee in Victoria’s northwest.

During a brief mention in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday, Raymond’s solicitor asked for the matter to be adjourned.

“There are some ongoing conversations with (prosecutors) in relation to bail so we seek the matter to be adjourned to Monday so those issues can be resolved,” the solicitor said.

Counsel for the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions, Suki Bloom, did not oppose the adjournment.

Raymond’s solicitor said his client would likely appear in person if he was still in police custody or by video link if he was moved to a remand centre before Monday.

The solicitor confirmed to acting magistrate Michelle May that a mental health court liaison report was being prepared.