A woman charged with intimidation and public threats of violence based on religion after an incident at a Kmart in Sydney’s southwest is accused of hitting a school principal with her car just days earlier.
Kelly Farrugia, 39, was caught allegedly shouting insults at a mother and daughter at a Kmart in Bankstown after seeing their pro-Palestinian outfits.
He stood in front of the couple, who filmed the encounter, for several seconds before finally asking them: “Are you proud to use “From the River to the Sea?”,” referring to the slogan widely used by the pro-Palestinian movement.
The phrase refers to the area between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea, which includes Israel and which many Palestinians say should be part of Palestine.
“You are…fuck Allah,” he said. ‘Every damn day. Fuck off.’
Police have now alleged in court that Farrugia narrowly avoided hitting Granville Boys High School principal Noel Dixon with his car outside the school on December 18.
“It’s a long story,” Farrugia told acting magistrate Ray Plibersek in Parramatta Bail Court, the Daily Telegraph reported.
“I received a phone call from the police telling me they had been recording me and if I did anything they would threaten me with an AVO.”
A woman (pictured) dubbed ‘Zionist Karen’ surprised a mother and daughter at a Kmart store after she became very offended by their outfits.
Farrugia claimed in court that Mr Dixon was “using the school as his own Pentagon”.
Mr. Dixon is not accused of any crime.
In addition to facing charges over the Kmart incident, Farrugia also faces charges of common assault and intimidation over the incident outside Granville Boys High School.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Bassin opposed bail, saying police will allege Farrugia is predisposed to “racially motivated stereotypes or attacks”.
“That’s concerning, particularly the matter that occurred inside the Kmart, where she appears to have had no prior interactions with the complainants,” he said.
“These are people who are just going about their business, doing their shopping, when they are faced with some pretty significant bullying and insults.”
Sgt Bassin said the incident allegedly involving Mr Dixon posed a risk to the public.
«At that time there were other students in the roundabout. What does indicate that he was very close to the actual plaintiff is that he felt the wind from the vehicle; “The car must have been very close and it is fortunate that there was no collision,” he said.
The woman (pictured) screamed and used foul language when she saw her fellow customers wearing pro-Palestine t-shirts.
Khan, a legal aid lawyer, said Farrugia had “annoyance or disdain” for people of a certain faith.
Farrugia was granted bail for living conditions with his father, maintaining a curfew between 9pm and 5am and not going within 500 meters of Granville or Bankstown.
“It’s theirs, they can have it,” Farrugia said.
He is due back in court next month.