Disabled woman charged over ‘anti-Semitic voicemail’ says call was pocket dial

An intellectually disabled Sydney woman charged over an “anti-Semitic” voice message received by well-known Jewish nutritionist has pleaded not guilty, saying the call was an accidental pocket dial.

Bunnings worker Serena Tonuri, 26, who is on the NDIS, faced Burwood Local Court on Thursday accused of sending a voicemail containing gunshots to child nutrition expert and author Mandy Sacher, 49, last month.

Ms Sacher contacted NSW Police saying she had received a call that caused her immediate fear, and Ms Tonuri was then arrested at her home in Meadowbank and charged with “using a carriage service to menace, harass or offend” by officers from Operation Shelter, a special taskforce set up to combat anti-Semitism.

But Ms Tonuri’s lawyer Osman Samin said outside court the call was a “pocket dial”.

“This seems to be a case of ‘charge first, and answer questions later’,” he told 9News.

“All of the circumstances of this case point in one direction – it is an accidental call.”

Mr Samin said his client had a severe intellectual and cognitive disability that required NDIS support, and was not anti-Semitic, saying “she doesn’t even understand the conflict [in Gaza]”.

The court heard Ms Tonuri allegedly sent a text message to Ms Sacher at 8.26pm on December 20 that read: “Hey, how are you? Is this Mandy? I saw somewhere that you helped Katie from Married at First Sight with her nutrition. I was wondering if you could help me as well. Serena.”

About five hours later a call from Ms Tonuri’s number went to Ms Sacher’s voicemail, and in the message that followed Ms Sacher heard sounds she believed were gunshots, causing her “immediate fear and nervousness”.

Mr Samin said the sounds could have been a bed creaking, or “someone snoring”.

Ms Tonuri, who will face court again next month, said she was shocked when she realised she was being charged.

“Especially with my mental health, I wish people could understand,” she said.

Header image: Left Serena Tonuri outside court (9News). Right, Mandy Sacher (Facebook).

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