Magistrate warns online trolls and poison penners - queensland

Eric Frei · 3rd August 2010, 09:20 PM

Facebook troll Jessica Cook pleads guilty to defacing a tribute page to Justine Jones | Courier Mail

Quote:

August 02, 2010

A MAGISTRATE has warned online trolls the "heavy hand of the law will come down on you'' if disturbing material is posted on social networking sites.

Jessica Chantelle Cook, 22, pleaded guilty in the Gympie Magistrates Court today to one count of using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence.

The Gympie shop assistant was charged by police in July after she posted hateful comments and crude photographs on a Facebook tribute page set up in the memory of slain Sunshine Coast woman Justine Jones.

Ms Jones, 22, from Alexandra Headland, was murdered last month and her body was found dumped at the Nambour rubbish tip.

Magistrate Maxine Baldwin described Ms Cook's actions as "appalling, incomprehensible and absolutely sickening.''

She posted offensive pictures including a headless corpse and a vagina on to Ms Jones's Facebook tribute page.

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The court heard Ms Cook created a fake profile and disguised herself by going online under the name Wendy Woods.

Prosecutor Jason Todman told the court Ms Cook was one of the site's administrators and posted "disturbing material" on the memorial page.

He said Ms Cook boasted online that her actions had gained media attention.

Prosecutor Todman told the court Ms Cook wrote: "I got a story in the local paper today, all my hard work has paid off.''

Ms Cook's lawyer, Michael Connolly from Connolly Dore Lawyers, said his client was picked on as a child and suffered mental health problems.

He said she used the internet "as a way of venting her frustrations.''

"She started trolling to get her point of view across but obviously it got out of control,'' Mr Connolly said.

"She has no desire to start trolling again.''

Mr Connolly would not confirm whether his client knew Ms Jones.

The court heard Ms Cook was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) at a young age, bipolar disorder and also suffered depression.

Magistrate Baldwin told the court she could not "even begin to put myself in the shoes of those families'' hurt by Ms Cook's actions.

She described it as a "sick sense of fun'' and said told Ms Cook she could not make fun of other people's losses.

Ms Cook fought back tears as she was given a three-month suspended sentence.

If she reoffends she will have to forfeit $3000.

She was released on a three-year good behaviour bond, two years probation and was banned from using social networking sites including Facebook, MySpace and Twitter.

She will also have her laptop computer returned to her after all inappropriate material is removed by Queensland Police.

Richard Peter Coburn, 26, from Sippy Downs has been charged with the murder of Ms Jones and remains in custody.

Garry Brockley · 3rd August 2010, 09:39 PM

Eric Frei · 3rd August 2010, 10:11 PM

Some FOOLS believe the better sites are where the trolls are not banned.

sueann · 3rd August 2010, 11:12 PM

So many people with some weirdo disease or another, if they haven't got one before they do sicko stuff they soon manage to find one before court day.

3rd August 2010, 09:39 PM	#2
Garry Brockley Bayside Tree Care Brisbane Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Brisbane Aus Posts: 1,649	Re: Magistrate warns online trolls and poison penners - queensland __________________ My business:- Brisbane Bayside Tree Care

3rd August 2010, 10:11 PM	#3
Eric Frei Admin - Razor sharp and independent 2 X Diploma Level 5 qualified arborist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,820	Re: Magistrate warns online trolls and poison penners - queensland Some FOOLS believe the better sites are where the trolls are not banned. __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

3rd August 2010, 11:12 PM	#4
sueann Former Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Hunter Valley Australia Posts: 599	Re: Magistrate warns online trolls and poison penners - queensland So many people with some weirdo disease or another, if they haven't got one before they do sicko stuff they soon manage to find one before court day.

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