Adelaide Aquatic Centre rapist Hayas Kardo was bashed in prison, report suggests white supremacist inmates were responsible

Prison inmates who bashed the Aquatic Centre rapist may have been white supremacists motivated by 9/11, a court has heard – but prosecutors say the claim lacks evidence.

The Adelaide Aquatic Centre rapist was bashed in prison – and a court has heard those responsible may have been a white supremacist gang motivated by the 9/11 terror attacks.

Prosecutors, however, have urged the District Court to carefully consider the incident involving Hayas Kardo, saying there is no evidentiary “link” to anti-Middle Eastern sentiment.

Kardo, 63, was found guilty at trial of raping a woman, 27, as she napped in a spa bath in 2018.

Although he continues to proclaim innocence, defence counsel say their client accepts he is going to jail and have asked the court to be merciful with his non-parole period.

Earlier this week, forensic psychologist Richard Balfour told the court Kardo was a “tolerable hazard” with a 2.5 per cent chance of reoffending.

That rating was, he said, based on a Canadian-written test designed to assess the potential, future risk posed by convicted sex offenders.

On Thursday, Andrew English, for Kardo, said his client’s time in custody so far had “been difficult”.

Hayas Kardo outside court, prior to his bail being revoked. Picture: Kathryn Birmingham.

“He was being abused and threatened by a group of white males within the (prison), including his first initial cellmate,” he said.

“He didn’t quite understand exactly what was being said to him but he believed that it was racially motivated and there were threats to kill him, to bash him.

“(He was) punched in the face, knocking his glasses to the ground … when he went to pick up his glasses he was punched again, resulting in his two front teeth being knocked out.”

He said the psychological report compiled by Mr Balfour outlined a possible motivation for the incident, which was reported to SA Police.

“There is what appears to be a white supremacist sort-of group of individuals within the prison system,” he said.

“It appears (they) have been operating for a number of years (and they) take it out on Middle Eastern inmates, and that this has been the situation since 9/11.

“There’s no doubt that Kardo will do his time harder than perhaps others within the prison system.”

Carmen Matteo, prosecuting, said the court should “have reservations as to the extent” it can “confidently accept” the “mark or grade” Kardo received on the Canadian test.

“The evidence fails to link the (prison) assault to a white supremacist group as a matter of fact,” she said.

“It fails to link the assault so some sort of racial or political motive.”

Judge Liesl Chapman remanded Kardo in custody for sentencing next month.