Jihad Murad: Ex Notorious bikie sentenced over Villawood brawl
Former Notorious bikie Jihad Murad was seen by guards swinging an ashtray - which was attached to a piece of string - around during a bloody brawl at the Villawood Detention Centre. Details of the melee have been revealed in court as Murad and others were sentenced for their roles.
Fairfield
Don't miss out on the headlines from Fairfield. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Man dies after becoming trapped under forklift in Sydney’s west
- Top performing high schools in Liverpool revealed
A former sergeant-at-arms of the Notorious bikie gang has avoided a jail term over his role in a violent brawl at Villawood Immigration Detention Centre last year.
Jihad Murad today pleaded guilty to common assault, with a previous affray charge withdrawn by the prosecution as a result.
The 34-year-old was not required to appear in person at Liverpool Local Court but instead dialled into the proceedings via telephone.
Two other detainees, Ali Aldahan and Armin Janzagh Nozad, also pleaded guilty to common assault and each had a charge of affray withdrawn.
The court heard eight others had been charged and sentenced over the brawl on March 28, which started when cultural tensions boiled over.
According to a police fact sheet, the violence began after an argument between detainees from Iraq and Iran escalated.
Murad stated in a police interview last August he had tried to keep the peace in the room for the first hour.
After realising his friend had been stabbed, Murad told police he tried to protect himself and deter others from attacking him by swinging a broom and an ashtray attached to a chain.
Neither the broom or the ashtray came into contact with anybody else.
At one point, after having a chair thrown in his direction, police facts state Murad approached two other detainees and swung the ashtray over his head in their direction before being intercepted by staff, who escorted him out of the area.
Staff were also forced to step in when Nozad moved towards a group of detainees with half a pair of scissors in hand.
He had earlier approached other detainees holding a chair above his head “in a threatening manner”, police facts state.
During the violence, Aldahan struck another detainee six times and kicked him in the back.
In sentencing submissions, Murad’s barrister said his client had an “unenviable record”.
“He’s now 35, undoubtedly matured from his earlier years,” he said.
The court heard Murad was born in Lebanon and grew up amid violence; at the age of 11, he watched as his friend was killed during a massacre.
“This is the backdrop to an unenviable record since arriving in Australia,” his barrister said.
The maximum penalty for common assault is two years’ imprisonment, however, Magistrate Joanne Keogh noted the threshold where a custodial sentence would be considered had not been crossed in each of the three matters.
Ms Keogh said she had “no doubt” issues in relation to immigration status could contribute to feelings of anxiety and other mental health issues, and being detained alongside people from diverse backgrounds who may have “underlying hostilities” could lead to conflict.
However, she said that did not justify violence.
“Everyone who is confined in those circumstances is entitled to feel safe despite difficulties in that environment.”
All three men were sentenced to a 12-month community correction order.