Warning: This story contains graphic content.
An ARIA-nominated musician and Olympian has been issued an apprehended violence order after it was alleged in court that he told a woman he had dreams about pouring petrol on his ex-partner and setting her and her current partner alight.
The AVO protects the ex-partner, her current partner and two others in the home.
It is the second AVO issued to folk singer-songwriter Paul Greene in the past year, both protecting former partners.
In November, Greene’s most recent partner Mary* was protected by a two-year AVO in Nowra Local Court. That order was made by consent and without admissions from Greene.
Days after that AVO was issued, Mary reached out to Jess*, who had been in an earlier long-term relationship with Greene, claiming he had made comments that scared her.
Greene allegedly told her that he could ride up to Jess’ home disguised in his motorcycle gear, and knew how long he would serve in jail if he was convicted of double homicide, saying it would be “worth it”.
“[He] used to go really dark and talk about how he wanted to take you and [your current partner] out, and he wouldn’t care if he went to jail,” Mary texted her.
“It used to freak me out, but I never thought he actually would, but now I’m not so sure. I’m worried about you guys.”
Mary said Greene had begun drinking heavily and taking drugs, which had been a trigger for his alleged domestic violence against Jess while they were in a relationship.
A third woman also told police that Greene spoke of dreams he had about killing Jess and her current partner, saying he “wanted to set them on fire by pouring gasoline on them and lighting them on fire”.
The woman also said that Greene told her he “want[ed] to slit their throats”, burn their house down and “see them in pain”.
The AVO, which states that police have concerns about the escalating nature of the threats, was issued in Nowra Court last Monday, prohibiting Greene from going within 500 metres of Jess’ home or work, contacting her, or threatening her.
The AVO was made by consent.
It took nine months for the final order to be made following a series of delays and adjournments. In one instance, Jess spent the day waiting to give video-link evidence from a police station, only for the case to be adjourned without her being called.
Greene was also charged with breaching the interim AVO after making a call to Jess’ phone. He was found not guilty, with the judge unconvinced that the call was intentional.
Greene represented Australia in the 400m sprint at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, as well as the 1990, 1994 and 1996 Commonwealth Games.
Since retiring from athletics, he has become well known within the music industry and in the wider Shoalhaven area. He has performed with Midnight Oil’s Rob Hirst as Hirst & Greene, with Paul Greene & The Other Colours at the National Folk Festival, and at a Greens council election event.
This year, he was nominated by the council for a Shoalhaven Australia Day Citizen of the Year Award. A petition to revoke his nomination garnered more than 500 signatures.
He recently joined the long-running rock band vSpy vSpy for a tour in October, represented by Laneway Music.
*Names changed for privacy
Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) or the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491.
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Amber Schultz is a crime and justice reporter with The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via X or email.From our partners
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.smh.com.au
