Abbas Al-Khafaji to be sentenced for Narellan McDonald’s rampage

A man who ploughed his car into a McDonald’s and threatened a woman inside with a knife said his PlayStation 5, his phone and his radio were controlling him, a court has heard.

A man who smashed his car into a southwest Sydney’s McDonald’s and threatened a woman inside with a knife told police he was being controlled by his PlayStation 5, a court has heard.

Abbas Al-Khafaji is to be sentenced for three counts of using an offensive weapon intending to commit an indictable offence over the appalling incident at Narellan McDonald’s in February 2022.

He has further pleaded guilty to destroying or damaging property worth between $5000 and $15,000, and contravening an apprehended violence order.

Confronting vision of the terrifying incident shows Al-Khafaji’s SUV hurtling towards the restaurant’s entrance where it ran over two bollards, shattered glass and sent tables flying before he leapt out of the car, pausing only to grab a knife.

Abbas Al-Khafaji on CCTV of the incident.

Al-Khafaji confronted the victim while she defended herself with a broom and told her “I’m going to kill you,” as she begged him not to hurt her.

At Sydney District Court on Friday, Judge Tanya Smith said she would have to make findings on a number of issues in order to appropriately sentence Al-Khafaji.

Judge Smith said she would have to determine whether Al-Khafaji was in a state of psychosis and suffering delusions when he commenced the attack, and – if he was – whether there was a causal link between his mental state and his actions.

It was not in dispute Al-Khafaji had a lengthy history of mental illness and had previously been dealt with under the Mental Health Act for an earlier, unrelated charge in 2019.

The moment the Mercedes crashed into the restaurant.

“The facts state he was telling police that his PlayStation 5 and his phone were controlling him,” Judge Smith noted.

“It’s quite deliberate conduct, arming himself, going to the location, he appears to have a specific objective – not his fear, but instilling fear in the victim.”

The judge also reflected on the remarks of two separate psychologists who assessed Al-Khafaji and how their findings might influence her judgment of the facts.

“(One doctor says) it’s difficult when he assess him as someone who is unreliable in terms of versions he gives,” Judge Smith said.

“He’s prepared to say whatever he thinks may help him.”

Al-Khafaji inside the restaurant.

The judge said she would also have to assess the weight of an incident in which Al-Khafaji once again breached his apprehended violence order forbidding him to contact the victim by sending her an apology letter.

The Crown categorised the matter as a breach but said no charge would follow as the time limit within which it could be prosecuted had expired.

Al-Khafaji’s counsel told the court he had felt he had to write the victim a letter to tell her how sorry he was.

“He seemed to have another purpose to his letter, that his request at the end of the letter of what he wanted from the complainant would support that he appears to have genuine remorse,” Judge Smith said.

“No matter which way you look at it, it’s an attempt to manipulate court proceedings – he’s trying to say I need you to do this as to better my outcome and I need you to do them even if you don’t want to do them.”

Judge Smith also noted how Al-Khafaji’s letter seemed to focus on how much the incident had damaged his life before he said to the victim “I’m sure it changed your life forever too”.

The judge will hand down sentence on March 28 at Sydney District Court.