Gavin Michael Higgs’ ‘kill threat’ against WA Premier Mark McGowan a ‘joke and drunken mistake’, says lawyer

A man who stood in the dark outside Premier Mark McGowan’s Rockingham home screaming “f..k you ... I’m going to kill you” has been forbidden from going anywhere near the Labor leader or his wife Sarah for five years. Gavin Michael Higgs, 33, appeared in Rockingham Magistrates Court via video link from Hakea Prison on Friday, pleading guilty to disorderly behaviour in public. Police prosecutor Senior Constable Brian Sutherland said the original charge of threatening to kill the premier had been downgraded after a “long and drawn out” discussion. The court heard how Higgs stood outside the waterfront property hurling abuse around 8.30pm on April 21, before continuing down the street, still yelling. In an interview at Rockingham Police Station, he admitted he was drunk and that he “regretted” his actions. Lawyer Margaret McNulty said Higgs, who had pleaded guilty to the new charge at the earliest opportunity, intended the attack as a joke, but now realised it as a “drunken mistake” that was a lot more serious. She also said Higgs was back behind bars after breaking bail to visit his dying father. Magistrate Joanne Andretich said she could understand why he had broken his bail, which will be dealt with at a later date. She imposed a 12-month community-based order so Higgs could get help with his alcohol addiction, and granted a five-year order protecting the Premier and his wife.