John Howard Amundsen
Encyclopedia
John Howard Amundsen gained some notoriety in 2006 being one of the first Australians to be charged under new anti-terrorist laws. Initially suspected of being a part of a wider terrorist plot, it quickly became apparent that Amundsen acted alone and, sadly, was suffering from substantial psychiatric illness. An only child living with his mother in his Aspley
childhood home, Amundsen was a loner who built few lastly friendships both at school and in the workplace. With a long time fascination with law-enforcement, it is interessting to note that a 1995 psychiatric assessment found that he suffered from a delusional disorder in which he claimed ongoing persecution by the Queensland
police service. The same report noted his substantial intellect, allegedly describing him as being in the top 5 percentile of the population in terms of intelligence.
"In general, Mr Amundsen complained that he had been subjected to overwhelming harassment by a Queensland Police Service officer or officers over a significant period of time," the report says. "He believed his driving and his home were subject to surveillance. He believed that he was stopped regularly and routinely on the roads for 'random' breath alcohol tests and other matters."
After completing Year 12 at St Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace in 1983, Amundsen studied journalism at the Queensland University of Technology
before being employed as a public relations staffer by the Brisbane Airport Corporation. During this period, notably the late Cold War, he reportedly began a period of flirtation with the secretive anti-communist Roman Catholic "order", the Knights of the Southern Cross
.
After his employment as a journalist ended, he studied education and in recent times taught the subjects of Graphic Design and Industrial Technology and Design at Ferny Grove State High School. In this period, it appears that Amundsen descended into a downward psychiatric spiral in which he became an increasing risk to the community.
He was sentenced to six years in prison and released on parole in 2009.
In February 2010, Amundsen was jailed for affixing a GPS tracking device to the car of a couple he was allegedly stalking in September of 2009.
Aspley, Queensland
Aspley is a suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia located about 13 kilometres north and about a half-hour drive north of the Central Business District of Brisbane...
childhood home, Amundsen was a loner who built few lastly friendships both at school and in the workplace. With a long time fascination with law-enforcement, it is interessting to note that a 1995 psychiatric assessment found that he suffered from a delusional disorder in which he claimed ongoing persecution by the Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
police service. The same report noted his substantial intellect, allegedly describing him as being in the top 5 percentile of the population in terms of intelligence.
"In general, Mr Amundsen complained that he had been subjected to overwhelming harassment by a Queensland Police Service officer or officers over a significant period of time," the report says. "He believed his driving and his home were subject to surveillance. He believed that he was stopped regularly and routinely on the roads for 'random' breath alcohol tests and other matters."
After completing Year 12 at St Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace in 1983, Amundsen studied journalism at the Queensland University of Technology
Queensland University of Technology
Queensland University of Technology is an Australian university with an applied emphasis in courses and research. Based in Brisbane, it has 40,000 students, including 6,000 international students, over 4,000 staff members, and an annual budget of more than A$750 million.QUT is marketed as "A...
before being employed as a public relations staffer by the Brisbane Airport Corporation. During this period, notably the late Cold War, he reportedly began a period of flirtation with the secretive anti-communist Roman Catholic "order", the Knights of the Southern Cross
Knights of the Southern Cross
The Knights of the Southern Cross is a Catholic fraternal order committed to promoting the Christian way of life throughout Australia....
.
After his employment as a journalist ended, he studied education and in recent times taught the subjects of Graphic Design and Industrial Technology and Design at Ferny Grove State High School. In this period, it appears that Amundsen descended into a downward psychiatric spiral in which he became an increasing risk to the community.
He was sentenced to six years in prison and released on parole in 2009.
In February 2010, Amundsen was jailed for affixing a GPS tracking device to the car of a couple he was allegedly stalking in September of 2009.