A man who allegedly told a lecturer he had a bomb and was going to "kill them all", leading to a university campus being locked down last week, has been granted bail.
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Maryborough Jarrod Kervarec, 35, appeared via video link from custody at the Ballarat Magistrates' Court on Thursday as his lawyer made an application for him to be released from police custody.
It followed dramatic scenes at Federation University's SMB campus in Ballarat last Thursday.
Just before 12.30pm, Kervarec reportedly approached a lecturer.
"The accused said 'I'm going to kill them all. I'm going to murder them all.
"I'm going to get all these motherf******'," Detective Senior Constable Howard told the court.
He said the lecturer initially thought the accused was "skylarking to someone else via bluetooth and didn't think much of it".
But then the accused stepped closer to him and allegedly said he had a trigger in his pocket and enough explosives in his backpack to "blow up everyone within a 300-metre radius to kill every motherf***** in the area."
The accused started to walk away before turning back and telling the lecturer to "have a good day".
The lecturer then called Triple-0 while watching the accused walk upstairs to the walkway above Grant Street.
Numerous police units descended on the campus, locking down a large area encompassing several buildings including the Tech School and Police Assistance Line.
Detective Senior Constable Howard said police conducted a search of all buildings, which took approximately two hours.
The accused had fled and was not located at the campus.
The incident was captured on CCTV footage.
The court heard the lecturer was "concerned and shaken up", as he believed the threats were real.
On Tuesday, November 23, Maryborough Police arrested the accused at his home.
Detectives from Ballarat CIU subsequently executed a search warrant at the accused's address and found the clothing the accused is seen wearing in the footage during the incident.
When approached by police, the accused's mother confirmed it was her son in the footage.
Kervarec, who did not wear a shirt during the proceedings, has been charged with three offences - making threats to kill, threatening to damage property and making a bomb hoax - after he was arrested on Tuesday.
But Detective Senior Constable Howard said the accused had not yet been interviewed due to his mental state.
The court heard Kervarec is unemployed, lives alone and has a long history of regular drug use which exacerbates his complex mental illnesses.
Police requested the magistrate remand Kervarec due to their belief he is an unacceptable risk due to ongoing drug use heightening his drug-induced psychosis and creating fear in the community.
"He lives on his own and has no support to ensure he takes his medication or to monitor his behaviour."
Submitting her reasons for Kervarec to be bailed, lawyer Madeline Ryan told the court her client had no prior criminal history and therefore no history of failing to comply with court orders or failing to appear at court.
She said Kervarec was assessed as suitable for the Court Integrated Services Program which would assist him with drug and alcohol and mental health treatment.
She said he was vulnerable in custody and while the allegations were serious the matter could take a long time to resolve and so there was a risk that if not granted bail he could spend longer in custody than any sentence imposed.
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Magistrate Dominic Lennon described the offending as "serious" and the incident as "disturbing", while the prosecution case was strong.
However he agreed with the defence's arguments about his mental health issues and the potential lengthy delay in the case being resolved.
"It is unlikely a 35-year-old with no priors and significant psychiatric deficits would get a custodial sentence.
"It would be a real injustice if he were to be remanded in custody awaiting trial."
Magistrate Lennon granted Kervarec bail, but ruled the accused must abide by certain conditions, including not attending universities and reporting to police once a week.
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