Terror Accused Held in WA's Highest Security Prison Unit as Lawyer Fights for Bail
Rebecca Le May
A man accused of being Western Australia's first homegrown terror architect remains locked in a high-security 'prison within a prison' after a series of technical issues stalled his bid for freedom.
Jayson Joseph Michaels, 20, came to the attention of authorities after allegedly expressing anti-Semitic and racist ideologies in a group chat on the encrypted messaging app Telegram.
Counter terrorism officers raided his parents' Bindoon property last month, seizing seven rifles, a ballistic vest, knives, a gas mask, and lock-picking tools.
Police allegedly found a notebook with entries between December 13 and February 25 detailing preparations for a mass-casualty attack.
It allegedly identified the Police Headquarters in East Perth, State Parliament, and Muslim places of worship as the targets.
Bail Hearing Stalled by Technical Glitches
Mr Michaels' high-stakes bail hearing in Perth Magistrates Court stalled on Monday when a crucial police affidavit emailed to Magistrate Belinda Coleman refused to open.
Commonwealth prosecutor Kirsten Nelson handed up a physical copy in a large case file, but the magistrate said she did not want to 'just take a cursory glance' before making a decision about bail.
To make matters worse, a technical glitch meant Michaels couldn't even see his own legal team, led by former federal attorney general Christian Porter, via video link from Casuarina Prison's Special Handling Unit.
Mr Porter said he intended to give oral submissions for about one hour arguing why his client should be released into the community, in addition to filing written submissions.
The barrister suggested he would target 'the strength of the prosecution case' and 'how different things might be interpreted'.
Magistrate Coleman adjourned the matter to April 1.
Charges and Related Case
Mr Michaels, who is also charged with failing to keep a firearm in compliant storage, possessing ammunition without a licence, and possessing a prohibited weapon, has not entered pleas to any of the charges.
His arrest came a month after Warwick man Liam Alexander Hall, 32, became the first person to be charged in WA with engaging in a terrorist attack.
Mr Hall is accused of hurling an improvised grenade into about 2500 demonstrators at an Australia Day rally in Forrest Chase.
He is also represented by a top Perth barrister, former District Court judge Simon Freitag, who said his client may enter pleas in Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court on March 31.
Security at State Parliament was ramped up in the wake of the Bindoon raid, highlighting ongoing concerns about domestic terrorism threats in Western Australia.
