No supervision for man who stockpiled chemicals and fantasised about mass killings

A 21-year-old man with a history of fantasizing about bombing universities and shooting students at his former school will be released into the community without any supervision, as a judge deemed he had been "punished enough" after serving two years in jail. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the United States alerted Australian police in 2024, following the man's online posts that contained disturbing content.

During police raids of the man's residence, officers discovered a collection of precursor explosives chemicals, some of which had been purchased online. The man pleaded guilty to two charges related to possessing explosives and created a manifesto detailing his intentions to "take revenge" on former classmates. A psychiatrist treating the individual reported that he frequently "lived in a fantasy world" and his obsession with chemistry was unlikely to change.

County Court Judge Douglas Trapnell convicted the individual and discharged him without imposing any further conditions, such as supervision or reporting requirements. Due to a suppression order placed on mental health grounds, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) cannot disclose the man's name, address, or the institutions he intended to target.

The man has been in custody since 2024, when he was denied bail by a local magistrate. The judge criticized prosecutors for their handling of the case, stating that the man had already endured an excessive amount of time in jail—677 days in total. Judge Trapnell also rejected calls for compulsory therapeutic treatment for the young man, emphasizing that he had already been "punished enough."

Psychologist Michael Davis noted that the individual had autism spectrum disorder and Schizotypal personality disorder, which impacted his ability to empathize and socialize. The FBI uncovered several posts on social media where the man expressed his intentions to "commit several bombings at a university," derail a train, and poison members of the public.

During the police raids, officers found various items, including chemistry glassware, military-grade gear, ammunition, communication devices, and coded handwritten notes outlining specific plans for the attacks. Judge Trapnell expressed his inability to override the suppression order concerning the man's name, as it had been granted by Magistrate Luisa Bazzani in 2024 under specific conditions. It will now be up to the media or other parties to seek a review of the order through the courts.