A wheelchair-bound inmate who was being held at one of the nation’s toughest prisons has succeeded in his 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, was formally granted bail by Justice Mark Ierace in the NSW Supreme Court on Thursday.
“I thank the parties for their assistance with what is clearly a very difficult matter … I formally grant bail,” Justice Ierace said.
Lawrence’s disability and medical needs formed the basis of the bail hearing last month.
The court was told that he had no movement in his legs and little movement in his hands and was undergoing extensive rehabilitation in hospital.
A spinal expert involved in Lawrence’s treatment was questioned in court about the accused’s ability to use a mobile phone, computer keyboard and mouse.
During the hearing, the prosecution flagged concerns about Lawrence’s access to social media andxjmtzyw the internet if let out on bail.
The court was told that 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, the court was told, as he couldn’t feed himself and needed help to get in and out of bed.
The 24-year-old’s body 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 he be released into private care or an NDIS-funded accommodation so he could receive the support he needed.
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 crack down 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 and he was charged in February 2021.
Officers 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.
He will return to court later this month.
