Yesterday Friendlyjordies producer, Kristo Langker pleaded not guilty to charges of stalking and intimidating NSW Deputy Premier John Bariarlo.
According to The Guardian, the producer appeared in Newtown court yesterday, where one of his lawyers, Emmanuel Kerkyasharian, told the court that Langker would be pleading not guilty to all charges.
Kerkyasharian also made it known he could be seeking changes to Langker’s current bail conditions which prevent him from walking past Parliament House. The location is not necessarily easy for Langker to avoid as he studies at Sydney Conservatorium of Music.
Barillaro is currently suing Jordan Shanks – known as Friendlyjordies – for defamation, because the comedian posted videos criticising and mocking the politician.
Langker was also filming the politician both times, assumed to be for the Friendlyjordies YouTube channel.
Langker was arrested by the NSW Police Fixated Person’s Investigation Unit, which was established following the infamous Lindt cafe siege to deal with lone act extremists.
Since the arrest, Langker has received support from politicians, including former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
Good to see most of Kristo Langker's bail conditions have been relaxed. But questions remain unanswered — including deployment of the NSW "fixated persons" unit which deals with suspected terrorists. Deeply worrying for freedom of speech and the media. https://t.co/ysSxdRuk5G pic.twitter.com/iRFvAP8Rmw
— Office of Kevin Rudd, 26th PM of Australia (@MrKRudd) June 24, 2021
They didn't want me to finish this speech.
About why friendlyjordies' producer, Kristo Langker, was arrested by the NSW fixated persons, counter-terrorism unit.#auspol
PART 1 pic.twitter.com/xLlYZbvbbo
— Julian Hill MP (@JulianHillMP) June 24, 2021
My statement on the arrest of Kristo Langker is here. The Greens have significant concerns with politicised policing, and in particular the ability of those in power to use the police and the courts to shut down critique they do not like. pic.twitter.com/tVMS1Ut85G
— David Shoebridge (@DavidShoebridge) June 17, 2021
The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Langker’s lawyer Mark Davis told the media outside of court, “We’ve yet to see any evidence, at all, beyond a general police statement as to the offence. We’re extremely confident in our evidence that we’ve now gathered, and we’re looking forward with enthusiasm to our day in court.”
According to SMH, Langker told a reporter, “If the counter-terrorism police wanted to, they should be able to arrest you based on the precedent they’ve set arresting me.”
