Episode Details

A 32-year-old man named David Scholes made a chilling, anonymous threat to top Australian journalist Nick McKenzie on Christmas Eve 2025, using a program he had access to and disabling his caller ID. The call, filled with menacing language and threats to “find” McKenzie, sparked a police investigation and led to Scholes’ home being searched. Facing court, Scholes took responsibility, admitting his company’s collapse had left him and his family unemployed — and that he wrongly blamed McKenzie for his job loss. McKenzie, a decorated investigative reporter tackling sensitive stories involving outlaw motorcycle gangs, called the attack a disturbing trend targeting journalists doing public interest work. Prosecutors argued the punishment must deter others, highlighting journalists’ vital role, while Scholes’ lawyer claimed it was a one-off, regrettable mistake. Ultimately, the magistrate sentenced him to a diversion program: a year of good behavior and anger management, avoiding a criminal record — a rare chance for accountability without permanent stigma.

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