Dani Mansour to be sentenced for involvement in Wakeley riots

A 19-year-old Doonside man, the first arrested after wild scenes broke out at a Sydney church following an alleged terrorist attack, will soon learn his fate.

Dani Mansour pictured talking to media after leaving Blacktown police station on April 18. Picture: Damian Shaw

A teenager involved in a riot at a Sydney church after an alleged terror attack will learn his fate in August.

Dani Mansour, 19, was the first man arrested after wild scenes broke out at the Christ the Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley following the stabbing of Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel.

He has pleaded guilty to riot and destroying or damaging property during a public disorder.

Thousands of people flooded the streets around the Wakeley Church and were seen damaging cars and causing chaos.

Mansour faced the Blacktown Local Court on Thursday, June 20, for sentence.

Dani Mansour pictured talking to media after leaving Blacktown police station. Picture: Damian Shaw

His lawyer told the court it was accepted his client was involved in the riot, but his actions were less serious than a majority of others involved.

He said the most serious thing Mansour did was kick a police car, twice, but he did not act violent towards the police or anyone else.

He said there was no evidence of his clients actions being pre planned or that he was an instigator of the riots, and that he was simply in the “wrong place, at the wrong time”.

Photos on the night of the Wakeley riots where hundreds of people descended on the Good Shepherd Church on Box Road in Wakeley.

He told the court his clients actions were conduct of “immaturity”, given his clients young age, and that his moral culpability was tempered.

Mansour, who was supported by his family in the public gallery, was described as having “good character” and was remorseful for his actions that night.

The court was told NSW police were seeking $723.50 in compensation for the damage to the police car which happened during the chaos.

Magistrate Aaron Tang then stood the matter down until later in the day, and later adjourned Mansour’s matter to obtain a Sentencing Assessment Report from the Blacktown Community Corrections District Office.

Mansour will return to Blacktown Local Court on August 23.