Rapist Bilal Skaf pleads 'unfair' treatment

VILE gang rapist Bilal Skaf, whose own lawyer admits has become "synonymous with rapes", is appealing his sentence claiming he was treated unfairly.

MEDIA coverage labelling Bilal Skaf a notorious gang rapist intent on escaping punishment was so voluminous and damaging that no direction by a judge could allow him a fair trial, a Sydney court has been told.

Skaf, 26, is serving 38 years for a number of rapes, including a pack attack on a 16-year-old girl in 2000 at Gosling Park in Sydney's west.

His appeal follows revelations the first member of his rape gang, Mahmoud Sanoussi, is due for release from jail as early as next month, when the Parole Authority will rule on his case.  

His brother Mohammed is also appealing his rape conviction.

Bilal made NSW history after originally being sentenced to a maximum 55 years for three gang rapes in 2000.

He was again the subject of intense publicity after successfully appealing his conviction for the Gosling Park attack on the grounds that two jurors were found to have conducted their own investigations in the park.

The revelation prompted tougher jury laws in NSW and legislative change allowing for the use of transcripts of victims' evidence at any retrial instead of recalling them as a witness.

Skaf's barrister Andrew Haesler SC told the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal today that damning media coverage of his client was so extensive it was impossible for him to receive a fair trial.

''(Skaf's name) has become synonymous with rapes committed by people of the Muslim faith in western Sydney and ... with gang attacks on young girls,'' Mr Haesler told the court.

No potential juror could have escaped his notoriety, which Mr Haesler said had been ``etched upon the public imagination''.

Skaf is challenging his conviction on the grounds that the retrial judge, Acting Justice Jane Mathews, should not have allowed the hearing to proceed.

No direction could have cured the gross prejudice to his client, Mr Haesler said.

Skaf is also appealing over the identification evidence at the trial in which the victim identified Skaf as the leader of the gang which attacked her.

Dressed in prison greens and under an escort of half a dozen guards, Skaf sat quietly in the dock, rising once to confer with his solicitor.

Mohammed Skaf also is appealing his conviction, but was not in court for today's hearing.