Man who sent death threat to Knights player sought to avoid court due to 'frightening' media

The Advertiser

4 days ago

AN ONLINE troll who sent a Knights player a death threat sought to avoid coming into the courthouse because he would have to face "intimidating and frightening" media cameras.
Joseph Baldwin, 20, was flanked by his father and defence solicitor Robert Williams as he braved the three-strong press pack and ultimately entered Belmont Local Court in person for sentencing on Wednesday.
Baldwin was convicted and fined $750 after pleading guilty to using a carriage service to menace, harass or offend Newcastle Knights winger James Schiller by sending him direct Instagram messages.
"Count your days, c**t I will end your f***ing ife," Baldwin wrote from his personal account at 9.08pm on June 5 after the Knights played against Manly.
"Doesn't make up for it even though you won."
Baldwin referenced "5 errors, 2 penalties, 1 six again and a partridge in a pear tree" in the messages.
A third message, which said that Baldwin hoped Schiller would "choke and die" on a "c**k", was so untasteful that magistrate Stephen Barlow refused to read it onto the record.
Baldwin's defence solicitor argued that no conviction should be recorded, saying the outburst could be seen as a moment of "youthful impulse" and a "brain snap".
Mr Williams said Baldwin, from Greta, was young, had no criminal record and was so remorseful that he would never send a message of that nature again.
The court heard Baldwin had played rugby league, clearly "loved the game", worked as an apprentice, and was highly regarded in Upper Hunter communities. Mr Williams said Baldwin was willing to write Schiller a very sincere letter of apology if appropriate.
But, the police prosecutor argued there was a need to deter others in the community from sending online threats to public figures.
"They're professionals, they're doing a job, and it's not up to the public to decide whether they're doing a good job or not," the sergeant said.
"It's easy to sit there and type away, but one has to think about the consequences."
Mr Barlow said Baldwin had a strong subjective case but the content of the messages was somewhat alarming. He said if the threat had materialised, it would have had catastrophic consequences.
"Rugby league players are tough people, it's one of the most brutal physical games around, but when one threatens to end your life it's a matter that obviously would make any person concerned about their welfare and their family's welfare," he said.
The court heard Baldwin had attended the police station on June 13 when first requested and had cooperated with investigating officers.
He was granted bail after he was charged, and it was his first time before the court on Wednesday.
Schiller took to his own Instagram account's 'stories' after receiving the direct messages in June to expose the comments he had received, which were slammed at the time by his teammates and the National Rugby League boss.
Schiller reported the messages to Lake Macquarie police the next day and detectives launched an investigation.
AN ONLINE troll who sent a Knights player a death threat sought to avoid coming into the courthouse because he would have to face "intimidating and frightening" media cameras.
Joseph Baldwin, 20, was flanked by his father and defence solicitor Robert Williams as he braved the three-strong press pack and ultimately entered Belmont Local Court in person for sentencing on Wednesday.
Baldwin was convicted and fined $750 after pleading guilty to using a carriage service to menace, harass or offend Newcastle Knights winger James Schiller by sending him direct Instagram messages.
"Count your days, c**t I will end your f***ing ife," Baldwin wrote from his personal account at 9.08pm on June 5 after the Knights played against Manly.
"Doesn't make up for it even though you won."
Baldwin referenced "5 errors, 2 penalties, 1 six again and a partridge in a pear tree" in the messages.
A third message, which said that Baldwin hoped Schiller would "choke and die" on a "c**k", was so untasteful that magistrate Stephen Barlow refused to read it onto the record.
Baldwin's defence solicitor argued that no conviction should be recorded, saying the outburst could be seen as a moment of "youthful impulse" and a "brain snap".
Mr Williams said Baldwin, from Greta, was young, had no criminal record and was so remorseful that he would never send a message of that nature again.
The court heard Baldwin had played rugby league, clearly "loved the game", worked as an apprentice, and was highly regarded in Upper Hunter communities. Mr Williams said Baldwin was willing to write Schiller a very sincere letter of apology if appropriate.
But, the police prosecutor argued there was a need to deter others in the community from sending online threats to public figures.
"They're professionals, they're doing a job, and it's not up to the public to decide whether they're doing a good job or not," the sergeant said.
"It's easy to sit there and type away, but one has to think about the consequences."
Mr Barlow said Baldwin had a strong subjective case but the content of the messages was somewhat alarming. He said if the threat had materialised, it would have had catastrophic consequences.
"Rugby league players are tough people, it's one of the most brutal physical games around, but when one threatens to end your life it's a matter that obviously would make any person concerned about their welfare and their family's welfare," he said.
The court heard Baldwin had attended the police station on June 13 when first requested and had cooperated with investigating officers.
He was granted bail after he was charged, and it was his first time before the court on Wednesday.
Schiller took to his own Instagram account's 'stories' after receiving the direct messages in June to expose the comments he had received, which were slammed at the time by his teammates and the National Rugby League boss.
Schiller reported the messages to Lake Macquarie police the next day and detectives launched an investigation.
AN ONLINE troll who sent a Knights player a death threat sought to avoid coming into the courthouse because he would have to face "intimidating and frightening" media cameras.
Joseph Baldwin, 20, was flanked by his father and defence solicitor Robert Williams as he braved the three-strong press pack and ultimately entered Belmont Local Court in person for sentencing on Wednesday.
Baldwin was convicted and fined $750 after pleading guilty to using a carriage service to menace, harass or offend Newcastle Knights winger James Schiller by sending him direct Instagram messages.
"Count your days, c**t I will end your f***ing ife," Baldwin wrote from his personal account at 9.08pm on June 5 after the Knights played against Manly.
"Doesn't make up for it even though you won."
Baldwin referenced "5 errors, 2 penalties, 1 six again and a partridge in a pear tree" in the messages.
A third message, which said that Baldwin hoped Schiller would "choke and die" on a "c**k", was so untasteful that magistrate Stephen Barlow refused to read it onto the record.
Baldwin's defence solicitor argued that no conviction should be recorded, saying the outburst could be seen as a moment of "youthful impulse" and a "brain snap".
Mr Williams said Baldwin, from Greta, was young, had no criminal record and was so remorseful that he would never send a message of that nature again.
The court heard Baldwin had played rugby league, clearly "loved the game", worked as an apprentice, and was highly regarded in Upper Hunter communities. Mr Williams said Baldwin was willing to write Schiller a very sincere letter of apology if appropriate.
But, the police prosecutor argued there was a need to deter others in the community from sending online threats to public figures.
"They're professionals, they're doing a job, and it's not up to the public to decide whether they're doing a good job or not," the sergeant said.
"It's easy to sit there and type away, but one has to think about the consequences."
Mr Barlow said Baldwin had a strong subjective case but the content of the messages was somewhat alarming. He said if the threat had materialised, it would have had catastrophic consequences.
"Rugby league players are tough people, it's one of the most brutal physical games around, but when one threatens to end your life it's a matter that obviously would make any person concerned about their welfare and their family's welfare," he said.
The court heard Baldwin had attended the police station on June 13 when first requested and had cooperated with investigating officers.
He was granted bail after he was charged, and it was his first time before the court on Wednesday.
Schiller took to his own Instagram account's 'stories' after receiving the direct messages in June to expose the comments he had received, which were slammed at the time by his teammates and the National Rugby League boss.
Schiller reported the messages to Lake Macquarie police the next day and detectives launched an investigation.
AN ONLINE troll who sent a Knights player a death threat sought to avoid coming into the courthouse because he would have to face "intimidating and frightening" media cameras.
Joseph Baldwin, 20, was flanked by his father and defence solicitor Robert Williams as he braved the three-strong press pack and ultimately entered Belmont Local Court in person for sentencing on Wednesday.
Baldwin was convicted and fined $750 after pleading guilty to using a carriage service to menace, harass or offend Newcastle Knights winger James Schiller by sending him direct Instagram messages.
"Count your days, c**t I will end your f***ing ife," Baldwin wrote from his personal account at 9.08pm on June 5 after the Knights played against Manly.
"Doesn't make up for it even though you won."
Baldwin referenced "5 errors, 2 penalties, 1 six again and a partridge in a pear tree" in the messages.
A third message, which said that Baldwin hoped Schiller would "choke and die" on a "c**k", was so untasteful that magistrate Stephen Barlow refused to read it onto the record.
Baldwin's defence solicitor argued that no conviction should be recorded, saying the outburst could be seen as a moment of "youthful impulse" and a "brain snap".
Mr Williams said Baldwin, from Greta, was young, had no criminal record and was so remorseful that he would never send a message of that nature again.
The court heard Baldwin had played rugby league, clearly "loved the game", worked as an apprentice, and was highly regarded in Upper Hunter communities. Mr Williams said Baldwin was willing to write Schiller a very sincere letter of apology if appropriate.
But, the police prosecutor argued there was a need to deter others in the community from sending online threats to public figures.
"They're professionals, they're doing a job, and it's not up to the public to decide whether they're doing a good job or not," the sergeant said.
"It's easy to sit there and type away, but one has to think about the consequences."
Mr Barlow said Baldwin had a strong subjective case but the content of the messages was somewhat alarming. He said if the threat had materialised, it would have had catastrophic consequences.
"Rugby league players are tough people, it's one of the most brutal physical games around, but when one threatens to end your life it's a matter that obviously would make any person concerned about their welfare and their family's welfare," he said.
The court heard Baldwin had attended the police station on June 13 when first requested and had cooperated with investigating officers.
He was granted bail after he was charged, and it was his first time before the court on Wednesday.
Schiller took to his own Instagram account's 'stories' after receiving the direct messages in June to expose the comments he had received, which were slammed at the time by his teammates and the National Rugby League boss.
Schiller reported the messages to Lake Macquarie police the next day and detectives launched an investigation.