Bindoon terror accused Jayson Joseph Michaels in WA’s highest security prison unit as lawyer fights for bail

A man accused of being the first person to plan a terror attack in WA remains locked in a high-security ‘prison within a prison’ after a series of technical issues stalled his bid for freedom. Jayson Joseph Michaels, 20, came to the attention of authorities after allegedly expressing anti-Semitic and racist ideologies in a group chat on the encrypted messaging app Telegram. Counter terrorism officers raided his parents’ Bindoon property last month, seizing seven rifles, a ballistic vest, knives, a gas mask and lock-picking tools. Police allegedly found a notebook with entries between December 13 and February 25 detailing preparations for a mass-casualty attack. It allegedly identified the Police Headquarters in East Perth, State Parliament and Muslim places of worship as the targets. Mr Michaels’ high-stakes bail hearing in Perth Magistrates Court stalled on Monday when, a crucial police affidavit emailed to Magistrate Belinda Coleman, refused to open. Commonwealth prosecutor Kirsten Nelson handed up a physical copy in a large case file but the magistrate said she did not want to “just take a cursory glance” before making a decision about bail. To make matters worse, a technical glitch meant Mr Michaels couldn’t even see his own hearing via video link from Casuarina Prison’s Special Handling Unit. Defence lawyer Christian Porter said he intended to give oral submissions for about one hour arguing why his client should be released into the community, in addition to filing written submissions. The barrister suggested he would target “the strength of the prosecution case” and “how different things might be interpreted”. Magistrate Coleman adjourned the matter to April 1. Mr Michaels, who is also charged with failing to keep a firearm in compliant storage, possessing ammunition without a licence and possessing a prohibited weapon, has not entered pleas to any of the charges. His arrest came a month after Warwick man Liam Alexander Hall, 32, became the first person to be charged in WA with engaging in a terrorist attack. Mr Hall is accused of hurling an improvised grenade into about 2500 demonstrators at an Australia Day rally in Forrest Chase. He is also represented by a top Perth barrister, former District Court judge Simon Freitag, who said his client may enter pleas in Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court on March 31.