Trial for terror-accused Talal Alameddine for supplying gun

A MAN has been committed to stand trial charged with supplying the gun used to kill NSW Police employee Curtis Cheng.

A man has been committed to stand trial charged with supplying the gun used to kill NSW Police employee Curtis Cheng.

Talal Alameddine, 24, was committed today to trial on six offences, including acquiring a pistol, supplying a pistol, and aiding and abetting Raban Alou to prepare or plan a terrorist act.

Farhad Khalil Mohammad Jabar killed NSW police worker Curtis Cheng, before being shot dead himself.

Talal Alameddine was arrested in October and charged over the Curtis Cheng shooting. Picture: NSW Police Media.

Magistrate Clare Farnan ordered Alameddine be tried after a hearing last week that also dealt with Alou, 19, and two others charged over the terror plot, 23-year-old Mustafa Dirani and Milad Atai, 21.

Ms Farnan is yet to rule on the cases of Alou, Dirani and Atai.

The Crown alleges Alameddine gave Alou a gun on October 2, 2015 and a short time later Alou passed the weapon to 15-year-old gunman Farhad Jabar. Jabar then used the weapon that afternoon to shoot Mr Cheng outside the police headquarters in Parramatta.

Prosecutors must prove not only that Alameddine supplied the gun but that he was aware there was a substantial risk Alou would use it to commit an act in preparation or planning for a terror attack.

NSW police employee Curtis Cheng was shot and killed by 15-year-old Farhad Jabar.

Flowers outside NSW Headquarters, a week after Curtis Cheng was shot dead. Picture: Toby Zerna.

The family of murdered NSW Police Accountant Curtis Cheng. Picture: Gary Ramage.

Last week’s hearing was shown police surveillance footage of Alameddine, Alou and Dirani at a park in Mays Hill in western Sydney on the day Mr Cheng was shot.

Video also showed Alameddine later meeting Alou at a car park at Merrylands where the Crown says the gun was handed over for free.

Ms Farnan said it was open that Alameddine could have given Alou a firearm, and that there was evidence capable of supporting the inference that Alameddine “turned his mind” to the purpose for the gun.

She said there was a “strong inference available” that Alameddine was given enough information to make him aware there was a substantial risk Alou would act in preparation for a terror attack.

“I find the prosecution case capable of satisfying a reasonable jury, properly instructed, of the offence alleged (aiding and abetting Alou),” Ms Farnan said. Alameddine showed no emotion when he was committed to stand trial.

He is due to face the NSW Supreme Court in June.