A wheelchair-bound inmate being held at one of the nation’s toughest prisons has launched a bid for freedom as he faces allegations he planned terrorism acts from his cell.
Tukiterangi Lawrence, 24, was charged with two counts of committing acts in preparation for, or planning, a terrorist act after counter-terrorism police raided his cell at Goulburn’s Supermax in October 2019.
He was on remand at the time over matters unrelated to terrorism.
Lawrence, who is now tetraplegic and wheelchair bound after he was allegedly hit in the neck during a standoff with police last year, appeared on Monday via video link in the Supreme Court, where his disability and medical needs formed the basis of the bail hearing.
The court was told Lawrence had no movement in his legs and little movement in his hands and was undergoing extensive rehabilitation at the Prince of Wales hospital in Sydney.
A spinal expert involved in Lawrence’s treatment was questioned in court on Monday about the accused’s ability to use a mobile phxjmtzywone, computer keyboard and mouse.
The prosecution had flagged concerns about Lawrence’s access to social media and the internet if let out on bail.
The court was told he would be able to use such devices but his other movements would be greatly restricted.
Lawrence would need to live in a disability care home or similar private establishment where carers would be with him for several hours a day.
He cannot feed himself and needs help to get in and out of bed.
If he was refused bail he would need to be moved to Long Bay Hospital for ongoing care, but the facility had “limitations”, the court was told.
Lawrence’s body also goes into involuntary spasms due to his paralysis and he now has sleep apnoea and can only sleep with the aid of a breathing machine.
The defence submitted that Lawrence be released into private care or an NDIS-funded accommodation so he could receive the support that he needed.
Justice Mark Ierace acknowledged that there would need to be conditions in either case, including monitoring his use of devices and also visitors.
Justice Ierace listed the matter as part heard and gave both parties two weeks to determine the best options for Lawrence, including gaining expert evidence on whether he is a candidate for nerve surgery.
In December last year, Lawrence was allegedly hit on the neck by an object during a stand-off with police at Supermax. He complained that he couldn’t feel his legs.
Detectives had raided Lawrence’s cell a year earlier as part of Operation Zellaer, which was designed to crackdown on people alleged to be engaging in terrorism-related activities.
When raiding his cell, detectives seized several items, including a notebook and letters.
Police were granted an order to keep Lawrence behind bars while they continued to investigate. He was charged in February last year.
Police will allege Lawrence was planning terrorist acts targeting police, military personnel and corrective services staff.
Lawrence’s appeal against the interim detention order was later thrown out by the NSW Court of Appeal in 2020.
According to the judgment, he had viewed videos of beheadings that he described as “beautiful”.
“Her Honour also took into account that a risk assessment report had concluded that the appellant was at a high risk of engaging in extremist violence and appeared to hold religiously oriented grievances and was continuing to seek out extremist beliefs,” the judgment stated.
Lawrence faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment if convicted.
His matter will return to court later this month.
