1. SNNEWS SHEPPARTON NEWS, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2016 3
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One FM axe threat
MAN CONFRONTED RADIO PRESENTER SAID TO HAVE BEEN BULLYING HIS WIFE
By Elaine Cooney
A Shepparton tree lopper,
50, avoided a jail term and
conviction but was fined
$1000 for threatening a One
FM radio presenter with an
axe.
Raymond John Hunter
pleaded guilty in the Sheppar-
ton Magistrates’ Court yester-
day to assault and possessing
a dangerous article.
Magistrate John O’ Calla-
ghan said he could have
imposed a jail term.
He said he was ‘‘very con-
cerned about the presence of
the axe’’ but realised it was a
‘‘last-minute, spontaneous
decision and not well thought
out’’.
‘‘If I condone anarchy, God
help us if people feel they can
fight with an axe.
‘‘You never know what can
happen in a fight where an axe
is taken.’’
Mr O’Callaghan said if
Hunter had felt the law was not
moving fast enough, it did not
give him the right to take it in-
to his own hands.
Police prosecutor Leading
Senior Constable Jeff Wren
said on July 16 last year, at
11.30 am, the victim was pre-
senting a radio show at the
One FM station.
Hunter had grabbed him by
the throat with his left hand
while holding an axe in his
right hand.
He said the axe was removed
by a witness at the radio sta-
tion.
Ldg Sen Const Wren said
Hunter’s wife, Di Hunter, had
been in a verbal dispute with
the victim about on-air
presenters before the assault.
He said when police arrived,
the victim had scratches to his
neck but did not require medi-
cal attention.
Ldg Sen Const Wren said
Hunter told police he received
a phone call from his wife who
was crying following an argu-
ment with the victim and
needed him to pick her up
from the station.
He said Hunter wanted to
stop the bullying of his wife,
grabbed the victim by the col-
lar shook him and grabbed an
axe from his vehicle.
He said when questioned
why he produced the axe,
Hunter said ‘‘just to scare
him’’ and later realised it was a
‘‘dumb move’’.
Defence lawyer Dominique
Leong said the incident hap-
pened in the context of anger
due to the harassment and
bullying of his wife in her place
of employment.
She tendered a letter of sup-
port from One FM in favour of
Di Hunter.
Mr O’ Callaghan took into
consideration Hunter’s agi-
tated state and believed his
behaviour was out of character
due to ‘‘significant frustration
by the way this fellow was
treating (Hunter’s) wife’’.
Selfless act: Jess Kirwin will be spreading the love with packaged meals and a special note to homeless
people in Melbourne on Valentine’s Day, on Sunday. Picture: Julie Mercer
Hearty
meal in
charity
By Cameron Whiteley
A Shepparton woman is put-
ting her own generous and self-
less take on Valentine’s Day.
While many prepare to spend
the day with their partner or go
out on a date, Jess Kirwin will be
spreading the love towards
homeless people in Melbourne
on Sunday.
Miss Kirwin, 23, is preparing
to make dozens of sandwiches,
rolls, cakes and slices later this
week that along with pieces of
fruit, will be packaged up for
delivery to the homeless.
The bags of food will be
accompanied by a special note,
saying ‘‘you are so loved’’.
She anticipates her gesture
will reach between 100 and 150
of the city’s homeless.
Miss Kirwin said she hoped to
make those in need feel ‘‘valua-
ble and loved’’.
‘‘Valentine’s Day is a vehicle
to commemorate love and I
wanted to spread the love to
those most in need,’’ she said.
‘‘I don’t have a significant Val-
entine, so it’s a good opportu-
nity to spread the love
everywhere else.
‘‘I think in my life, I’ve been
so blessed so this gives me an
opportunity to give back to the
community.’’
Miss Kirwin said she was pre-
pared for a vast range of reac-
tions from those on the street.
‘‘I’m thinking some people
will be grateful, surprised, but
I’m also prepared for and
expecting some to show anger
in some ways,’’ she said.
‘‘But if I can help even one
person out of all of this, that’s
the main thing for me.’’
Miss Kirwin said her mother
would assist her with the prepa-
ration, but said any donations of
food to help her out would be
gratefully accepted.
Anyone who is interested in
donating goods for Miss Kir-
win’s initiative can contact her
on 0428 113 088.
Banned driver spared jail term
By Elaine Cooney
A Shepparton woman, 57,
escaped a two-year prison term
and was instead fined $500 for
driving with a disqualified
licence and driving an unregis-
tered vehicle on two occasions.
Beate Kofler, of Little St
pleaded guilty to the charges at
the Shepparton Magistrates’
Court yesterday. Police pros-
ecutor Leading Senior Con-
stable Kim Talbot said Kofler
was intercepted on November
18 in East Shepparton and
officers discovered her vehicle
registration expired on Septem-
ber 24 and her licence was sus-
pended until February.
She said Kofler had admitted
knowing her registration had
expired. Leading Sen Const
Talbot said on December 20
police intercepted Kofler at a
road block near Wanganui Rd,
where she was found to have an
expired registration and sus-
pended licence.
She said Kofler’s excuse was
that she needed to go to the tip
and the situation would “keep
happening for the next three
months”.
Kofler, who represented her-
self, said she was disposing of
“combustible fuels” which were
illegal in times of high fire
danger. She told the court she
paid the registration on Decem-
ber 24 instead of her rent.
Kofler argued her licence was
suspended due to losing
demerit points and not offences
such as drink driving.
Magistrate John O’Callaghan
agreed with Kofler’s view but
warned it was a serious offence.