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Man accused of Goldfields jail break-in denied bail

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Tegan GuthrieKalgoorlie Miner
Police car blocks a road in Kalgoorlie.
Camera IconPolice car blocks a road in Kalgoorlie. Credit: Tom Zaunmayr.

A man accused of jumping a fence into Eastern Goldfields Regional Prison with intent to supply cannabis to inmates blew up at the magistrate when he was denied bail in court yesterday, calling her a “maggot”, “s…” and “fat c…”.

Michael Patrick Munmurrie, 28, appeared in Kalgoorlie Magistrate’s Court yesterday for three new charges including attempting to supply cannabis, possession of drug paraphernalia and trespass.

Mr Munmurrie could be heard screaming, swearing and banging on the walls from the holding cell during another person’s court appearance, but appeared calmer when he was brought before Magistrate Erin O’Donnell.

However, he continually interrupted court proceedings, including his own lawyer who was speaking on his behalf, to try and explain the situation in his own words.

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His lawyer Elvis Stokes was attempting to make a bail application, but because Mr Munmurrie had been on bail for an aggravated burglary charge at the time of the alleged new offences, he had to show exceptional circumstances for bail to be considered.

Bail was opposed by the prosecutor, who said Mr Munmurrie had an “extensive record” and claimed he had been caught inside the prison and CCTV footage of the incident was available.

Mr Stokes told the court Mr Munmurrie had been complying with his bail conditions and wanted to be granted bail as a family funeral was taking place later this month and his partner was also pregnant with their second child.

He also told the court his client had health problems and was trying to make changes to his life.

But Ms O’Donnell said she classed none of those reasons as exceptional circumstances and denied bail.

Mr Munmurrie stood up and begged the magistrate to give him a chance.

“I’m trying to express myself so you can understand me,” he said.

“I have been doing pretty good. I finished my six months and I have been complying with bail conditions.

“I just found my routine.”

He told the court he did not have drugs on him and had instead “shot a message over the fence” for his dad regarding his sister.

When the magistrate reiterated that she could not grant bail unless exceptional circumstances were shown and told him to stand down, Mr Munmurrie launched a tirade of slurs directed at her.

He called her a “f…… dog”, maggot, “s…”, fat c…” and continued yelling while he was escorted out of the court.

He will appear again at the end of the month.

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