A MAGISTRATE will be brought into Tamworth especially to hear hotelier Michael Ian Foxman's case that he allegedly threatened a justice official and forced the city's courthouse to be evacuated.
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Foxman, who remains in custody, was excused from appearing in Tamworth Local Court on Thursday, but magistrate Peter Thompson set down hearing dates for the multiple matters against the Tamworth businessman.
The 50-year-old has been in custody since his arrest in mid-January, and only last week had his latest bid for bail rejected.
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On Thursday, his defence solicitor Ljupka Subeska told the court her client has lodged a release application in the NSW Supreme Court.
Mr Thompson told the court hearings for the Imperial Hotel owner's multiple matters must go ahead on the dates he set down in April and May.
Foxman is accused of using an email to threaten, harass or offend on September 25; and a second allegation centres on Foxman allegedly threatening a police prosecutor in his conduct as a public justice official on September 28 in connection to a judicial proceeding, namely the court case involving Foxman.
The court has previously heard in September he allegedly sent threatening emails and forced the evacuation of the Tamworth courthouse, after he claimed it would be the "only thing left" when he had "finished with them".
"That is a hearing that must proceed on that day, as I said, because there will be a visiting magistrate brought in on that day specifically to deal with that matter," Mr Thompson said.
"The Commonwealth director should be on notice that ... the hearing will take priority on that day."
His other charges will be dealt with at hearings in May by Mr Thompson.
Ms Subeska said she had had trouble getting clear instructions from her client about making certain applications to the court.
"Your Honour would know that Mr Foxman would occasionally give instructions to go ahead with [the application] but then the next day 'it's no don't', so it's been difficult to get a fixed position," she told the court via video link from Sydney.
Mr Thompson said he "understood" and "empathised" with Ms Subeska's position.
The court heard Foxman has been trying to reverse previous guilty pleas entered in court, and a determination would be heard in May.
"Obviously the question as to whether there will be an application for traversal pleas, which has been raised before and seems to be something the defence is still considering," Mr Thompson said, adding that the matters will be dealt with in May to ensure there are no further delays.
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