‘Anti-vaxxer’ nurse is allegedly caught FAKING a Covid jab by sticking a 15-year-old with a needle – but not injecting the vaccine
- Nurse charged after allegedly pretending to administer Covid vaccines
- The 51-year-old works at private clinic in Perth and was treating friend’s son
- She allegedly stuck the needle in his arm but didn’t press down on plunger
- Christina Hartmann Benz also allegedly falsified paperwork around the jab
An ‘anti-vaxxer’ nurse who allegedly faked giving a 15-year-old a Covid jab has fronted court on Monday after being charged a fraud offense.
Christina Hartmann Benz, 51, is accused of sticking the needle in the teen’s arm but not injecting the life-saving vaccine.
She was allegedly caught out when a doctor at the Victoria Park respiratory clinic in Perth became suspicious and asked to sit in on a jab.
Christina Hartmann Benz, 51 (pictured), is accused of sticking the needle in the teen’s arm but not injecting the life-saving vaccine
The ‘anti-vaxxer’ nurse (pictured) allegedly faked giving a 15-year-old a Covid jab and has been charged with a fraud offense
The Perth Magistrates Court heard that up to 25 people allegedly requested Ms Hartmann Benz personally administer their dose behind closed doors after she started working at the clinic on November 2.
A doctor who thought something was wrong insisted on being in the room to oversee the registered nurse administering a jab.
The court was told she tried to obscure the doctor’s view and threw the needle in the medical bin with the vaccine dose still inside, WA Today reported.
The doctor also accused her of falsifying medical documents surrounding the injections and fired her on the spot before calling police.
About 20 minutes later, after being contacted by Ms Hartmann Benz, the teen’s father came back complaining his son was suffering side effects from the jab, the prosecutor said.
Ms Hartmann Benz spent the night in custody after police stormed her home at Byford home on Sunday and placed her in cuffs.
Ms Hartmann Benz (pictured) was allegedly caught out when a doctor at the Victoria Park respiratory clinic in Perth became suspicious and asked to sit in on jab
The doctor also accused her of falsifying medical documents surrounding the injections and fired her on the spot before calling police
‘The amount of people coming to that clinic specifically looking for her shows premeditation at the higher end of the scale,’ prosecutors said.
She was charged with gaining benefit by fraud and prosecutors strongly opposed bail fearing she would contact witnesses in an attempt to influence the case, the court heard.
There is also the possibility Ms Hartmann Benz could face further charges in relation to falsifying documents, according to prosecutors.
Defence barrister Roman Kan argued that given his client’s clean record and combined with the strange nature of the case, Ms Hartmann Benz should be granted bail.
Ms Hartmann Benz has a large Sea Shepard tattoo on he let arm (pictured)
Ms Hartmann Benz (pictured) was charged with gaining benefit by fraud and prosecutors strongly opposed bail fearing she would contact witnesses in an attempt to influence the case, the court heard
Magistrate Jennifer Hawkins granted bail on strict conditions that Ms Hartmann Benz must not practice as a registered nurse or administer any Covid vaccinations.
She is also banned from contacting any patients or employees where she administered vaccines and is restricted from using social media.
The nurse also administered Covid jabs at Core Medical in Rockingham where her chiropractor husband, Gordon Benz, and her parents were both patients.
Ms Hartmann Benz has been linked to the anti-vaxxer platform Australian Vaccination Network, which spouts misinformation about safe and effective inoculations online.
She is due back in court next month.
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