Man accused of AFL star death threats unmasked
A man accused of making a death threat against an AFL player has been unmasked and photographed off the field for the first time.
Jack Sullivan, 31, is accused of sending a series of death threats to Adelaide Crows star Izak Rankine on September 8 last year.
After his arrest on December 8, he was remanded in custody and charged with offensive use of a carriage service and appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Friday, March 13.
But speaking as he left court, Mr Sullivan denied sending the messages and vowed to fight the charges against him.
He answered “Yes” to the journalists’ question about whether he would fight the accusations.
When Rankine was asked if he had anything to say, he replied: “No.”
When asked which team he supports, he said: “I’m not actually going for anyone.”
Mr Sullivan, of Port Adelaide, is alleged to have made threats to Rankine via social media from an address in Kensington Gardens.
This came just four days after the Crows lost their final home qualifier against Collingwood; Rankin was serving a suspension for making a homophobic slur.
But Mr Sullivan insisted he had no part in sending the message to the 25-year-old.
He had previously appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on January 30 and was granted bail after a brief initial hearing.
And Friday’s hearing was even shorter; The case was immediately postponed to Friday, April 24.
In the statement made by Adelaide Crows after his first arrest, it was stated that two of its players were harassed on social media.
It says: “Adelaide can confirm that two of their players were subjected to direct and significant threats on a social media platform.
“Reports were subsequently made to South Australia Police in September which led to investigations.
“The AFL Integrity Unit has been notified of the matter and both players have been provided with the necessary and ongoing support.
“Any form of online harassment, discrimination or threatening behavior is unacceptable and has no place in our society.”
The charges against Mr. Sullivan relate solely to Rankine.
