Man who allegedly threatened ‘massacre’ denied bail
A man who threatened to commit a massacre on Bourke Street and was later found in Melbourne’s CBD “with a sharpened kitchen knife” had just been released from prison, a court heard.
On Saturday, Luke Cecchin, 31, was denied bail in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court; Here he faces charges of threatening to kill, threatening to cause serious injury, carrying a controlled weapon and using a transportation service for the purpose of threatening.
The court heard Cecchin called the Channel Nine newsroom twice on Thursday afternoon and told a journalist he was going to carry out a massacre at 8pm that night, demanding they not tell the police and instead come to the area to report on the alleged attack.
Detective Acting Sergeant Thomas Macafee told the court the journalist perceived the threats as serious and legitimate and contacted police, who sent “multiple police units” to find Cecchin.
Cecchin was found in a McDonald’s on Swanston Street at 7.30pm, half an hour before the deadline for the threatened massacre. Inside a bag was a 30-centimeter kitchen knife and a pair of gloves.
“If the police had not intervened, he would have had the ability to carry out his threat,” Macafee said. The prosecution argued that Cecchin would pose an unacceptable risk to public safety if granted bail, even if the bail allowed him to attend a hospital for a mental health evaluation.
The court heard Cecchin was released just six days ago after serving three months in prison.
Macafee said that on May 19, two days before the alleged threats, Cecchin was detained and sent to Barwon Heads emergency room for a mental health assessment after flagging threats to harm people at Avalon Airport.
He was released by an area hospital on May 20 and did not face any charges related to the airport incident.
The court heard Cecchin had a significant criminal history, including lengthy prison sentences for armed robbery. Macafee said Cecchin had breached his bail conditions seven times since 2010.
Macafee said Cecchin was mentally impaired, used methamphetamine and had used both alcohol and marijuana in the past. After being released from prison, he was staying in short-term accommodation and his family, with whom he had limited contact, did not want him to stay with them.
“We believe it is an unacceptable risk for him to be released on bail due to the risk he poses to the safety and well-being of others,” Macafee said. “Given the essential nature of the threats and the mental health situation.”
Cecchin’s lawyer said the alleged assault took place in light of his mental concerns and that he should be released on bail to receive treatment. Cecchin’s parents died when he was young and he had a “difficult childhood”, his lawyer said.
“He stated that he had thoughts of harming himself before these allegations,” he said.
In denying bail, Judge John Hardy said the government had made clear both in amendments to the Bail Act and in public statements that courts must protect the “safety of the community”.
“The allegation that he made comments referring to Bourke Street is also concerning,” Hardy said. “It’s important to remember – I will never use his name again – [a man] Early 2017… Driven into Bourke Street Shopping Center and murdered [six] people, including a three-month-old baby boy.
Hardy also noted that in 2018, Pellegrini icon Sisto Malaspina was fatally stabbed after Hassan Khalif Shire Ali stabbed three people on Bourke Street.
“I am satisfied that there is a high possibility that Mr. Cecchin may require mental health treatment; my concern is that he is still in custody and has been released less than a week ago… and there does not appear to be any support,” Hardy said.
Hardy said Cecchin was unlikely to receive mental health treatment while in custody, but added that the 31-year-old “poses an unacceptable risk to society.”
“I’m not saying you’re going to do anything, I just don’t know,” Hardy told Cechin. “The risk to the community is too high to allow you to be released on bail.”
Speaking to Cecchin again, Hardy said: “There is always light at the end of the tunnel… Don’t do anything bad to yourself.”
Cecchin will appear in court again on May 29.
Angus Delaney is a reporter for The Age. Email him at angus.delaney@theage.com.au or contact him securely on Signal at angusdelaney.31.Connect via email.
