Man charged over WA MP threats says weapon was musical instrument

A man charged over an allegedly threatening incident at Labor MP Hannah Beazley's office has told a Perth court he was holding a musical instrument, not a weapon, as police allege.John Lawrence Smart is accused of making threats at Ms Beazley's electorate office in inner-city Victoria Park on Wednesday while in the possession of an "improvised martial arts weapon".The police prosecutor told Perth Magistrates Court he was armed with an "implement resembling nunchucks", and had a second, similar implement attached to his belt.He said Mr Smart was "shouting and screaming at staff".But Mr Smart said the items were claves, wooden percussion sticks, which he had been playing for years.Holding his head in his hands during the hearing, Mr Smart referenced "the holy grail", and made claims about people who he said had "destroyed" his head."They don't understand what I'm going through," he said at one point.Mental health historyThe 56-year-old has been charged with being armed to cause fear, making a threat and possessing cannabis.The magistrate said she had been given a "multi-page mental health assessment".She said Mr Smart had a diagnosis of schizophrenia and had been an involuntary mental health patient in the past.The man allegedly visited Hannah Beazley's electorate office brandishing a pair of nunchucks. (ABC News: Madigan Landry)The court heard he often played "drumsticks" in public and thought the government was "attempting to target or pursue him".The magistrate refused bail and he will appear in court again on October 29.The court heard he may be put on the wait list for the Frankland psychiatric facility.'Menacing' threatsSpeaking earlier today outside parliament, Ms Beazley said Wednesday's incident was not the first time she has faced "very menacing" threats.Her comments came as WA Police released vision of Mr Smart's arrest, showing the wooden implements police allege he used.It comes just days after federal independent MP Helen Haines was left fighting for her life after losing both of her legs when a man allegedly ran into her with his car outside her Victorian electorate office.Ms Beazley said her staff had been "absolutely exemplary" in handling the incident and assisting police."I could not be prouder of them. I also could not be more worried about them," she told reporters.Hannah Beazley's office remained closed on Thursday, although Ms Beazley said her staff were still working. (ABC News: Lucy Murray)Incident prompts rethinkMs Beazley, the Disability Affairs and Local Government Minister, said this type of incident was "not new" for her staff, but it had prompted a rethink."Just a couple of weeks ago I instructed the police to drop an issue when I had been getting very menacing threats online," she said."But I dropped it because I just didn't have the time to deal with it."And really, I'll probably be picking that up again because it's also up to people like me to pursue these matters, to ensure that they aren't normalised and they aren't acceptable in the community."Hannah Beazley says she has received messages of support. (ABC News: Keane Bourke)Ms Beazley said despite offering to close the office today, her staff had chosen to keep working, adding she was "heartened" by the messages of support she had received.