Accused council stalker on bail

Magistrate’s stern warning

A WOMAN accused of stalking a sitting South Burnett councillor has been released on bail after spending more than a month in jail, with police failing to hand over evidence in time.

Judith Ann Schulz, 57, was arrested at the start of July and charged with a second stalking offence and breaching bail, after she allegedly continued to contact several people close to Councillor Scott Henschen, including his partner, best friend, and a relative of one of the witnesses.

Police will also allege the Tingoora-based web designer failed to report social media accounts and posted or caused a post to be made on a Wordpress blog, breaching strict bail conditions imposed in May.

Ms Schulz, who previously worked as Mr Henschen’s campaign manager, was facing two counts of unlawful stalking, two counts of extortion and five counts of breaching bail.

Her lawyer, Jay Rose, said she planned to contest the charges.

During Ms Schulz’s last court appearance, Magistrate Andrew Sinclair said the bail affidavit highlighted several emails sent by Ms Schulz to Mr Henschen.

Mr Sinclair said they appeared to demonstrate an intent to cause “stress and harm, including loss of employment and reputation” to the councillor, which prompted Mr Sinclair to deny bail.

The court heard in one email, Ms Schulz allegedly told him to “kiss (his) reputation and job goodbye”, threatening to continue making complaints against him to the South Burnett Regional Council CEO and the police.

Appearing via videolink in Kingaroy Magistrates Court, Schulz was granted bail under strict conditions after police failed to produce a brief of evidence due by August 12.

Ms Schulz was ordered to not publish “by any means, anywhere, anything in relation to the complainant, other than to her lawyer or before a court or tribunal”.

“I’ve tried to make that condition as broad and as easy to understand as possible. The only means you’ll have of expressing yourself is through these criminal proceedings until they’re resolved,” Mr Sinclair said.

He said officers needed to know that if their briefs weren’t prepared on time defendants would be released from custody.

Ms Schulz is due in court on September 27.