# Plea deal collapses in MP harassment case

> Prosecutors abandon agreed plea after man accused of sending menacing emails to federal MP Matt Burnell over two years.
- Title: Plea deal collapses in MP harassment case · Abc | Shortify
- Summary: Prosecutors abandon agreed plea after man accused of sending menacing emails to federal MP Matt Burnell over two years. Prosecutors reconsidered a plea offer…
- Keywords: ronald dean munro, matt burnell, adelaide magistrates court, harassment charges, federal police, spence electorate, news, politics, Plea, deal, collapses, harassment
- Source: Abc — https://abc.net.au/news/2026-10-21/plea-offer-reconsidered-for-man-accused-harassing-mp/107292322
- Published: 2026-10-21T04:46:33+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: ronald dean munro, matt burnell, adelaide magistrates court, harassment charges, federal police, spence electorate, news, politics
## Man accused of harassing MP
Ronald Dean Munro, seventy-four, was scheduled to enter pleas in Adelaide Magistrates Court to ten counts of using a carriage service in a harassing or offensive way.
## Emails sent over two years
Munro allegedly sent menacing emails to federal MP Matt Burnell between May two thousand twenty-three and December two thousand twenty-five, with ten emails sent across the period.
## Prosecutors reconsider plea deal
The prosecution told the court it was reconsidering the plea offer to consolidate charges, saying it was not in a position to maintain its previously foreshadowed agreement.

> We have previously had some negotiations in relation to this matter, but prosecution is presently reconsidering the plea offer put to consolidate the charges and is not presently in a position to maintain our previously foreshadowed agreement.
## Recent events prompt rethink
Munro's defence lawyer James Caldicott said dynamically things have changed in recent times, causing the Commonwealth director to reconsider how matters of this type ought to proceed.

> Dynamically things have changed in recent times which has caused a reconsideration by the Commonwealth director as to how matters of this type ought to proceed.
## Case headed for trial
Munro said he would plead not guilty to the charges. The matter was adjourned for two weeks and is now destined for trial.
## Key takeaway

Prosecutors reconsidered a plea offer to Ronald Dean Munro, seventy-four, accused of sending ten counts of harassing emails to South Australian MP Matt Burnell between May twenty twenty-three and December twenty twenty-five, citing recent events.