QLD:LNP hopeful stands aside over JFK email

AAP General News (Australia)
08-12-2011
QLD:LNP hopeful stands aside over JFK email

By Evan Schwarten

CAIRNS, Aug 12 AAP - An LNP candidate has stepped aside as his party investigates an
email saying he hopes Prime Minister Julia Gillard "follows the history" of assassinated
US President John F Kennedy.

LNP state director Michael O'Dwyer on Friday evening confirmed the party's candidate
for the state seat of Cairns, Paul Freebody, had voluntarily stepped aside while the party
conducts an investigation into the email.

Mr Freebody denies writing the reference to President Kennedy, who was assassinated
in 1963, and claims the email which has been circulating in far north Queensland has been
doctored.

An email, obtained by AAP, shows Mr Freebody also labelled the Prime Minister "evil".

"I see Gillard and Brown as the most evil people we have ever had in power in our country,"

the email states.

"We can only hope that she follows the history of JFK."

The email was sent to dozens of recipients and appears to have been written in reply
to a circulating petition which criticises Rupert Murdoch's influence over the government.

However, Mr Freebody on Friday sent AAP a different version of the email with the letters
KMR, apparently a referring to Kevin Rudd, taking the place of the reference to JFK.

"Categorically, I never said that. I said she should get the same treatment she gave
Kevin Rudd," he said.

Two other recipients of the email have confirmed to AAP that they received the version
with the reference to "JFK" from Mr Freebody.

The LNP has declined to comment further on the matter.

AAP ews/it

KEYWORD: FREEBODY UPDATE

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