Warning: This story contains graphic content.
asserted
story → contain → 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.
asserted
he → nominate → her
The AVO protects the ex-partner, her current partner and two others in the home.
asserted
AVO → protect → home
It is the second AVO issued to folk singer-songwriter Paul Greene in the past year, both protecting former partners.
asserted
both → issue → partners
In November, Greene’s most recent partner Mary* was protected by a two-year AVO in Nowra Local Court.
asserted
partner → protect → Court
That order was made by consent and without admissions from Greene.
asserted
order → make → 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.
asserted
that → issue → 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”.
uncertain
it → tell → homicide
“[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.
asserted
Mary → use → her
“It used to freak me out, but I never thought he actually would, but now I’m not so sure.
asserted
I → use → me
I’m worried about you guys.”
asserted
I → ’m → 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.
asserted
they → say → 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”.
asserted
he → tell → 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”.
asserted
them → say → 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.
asserted
police → state → her
The AVO was made by consent.
asserted
AVO → make → consent
It took nine months for the final order to be made following a series of delays and adjournments.
asserted
order → take → delays
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.
asserted
her → spend → station
Greene was also charged with breaching the interim AVO after making a call to Jess’ phone.
asserted
Greene → charge → phone
He was found not guilty, with the judge unconvinced that the call was intentional.
asserted
call → find → ?
Greene represented Australia in the 400m sprint at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, as well as the 1990, 1994 and 1996 Commonwealth Games.
asserted
Greene → represent → Games
Since retiring from athletics, he has become well known within the music industry and in the wider Shoalhaven area.
asserted
he → retire → 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.
asserted
He → perform → event
This year, he was nominated by the council for a Shoalhaven Australia Day Citizen of the Year Award.
asserted
he → nominate → Award
A petition to revoke his nomination garnered more than 500 signatures.
asserted
petition → revoke → signatures
He recently joined the long-running rock band vSpy vSpy for a tour in October, represented by Laneway Music.
asserted
He → join → 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.
asserted
Support → change → 491
The Aporia
