Brothers For Life founder Bassam Hamzy prepares for drug supply trial

One of the state’s most notorious prisoners Bassam Hamzy has had a taste of freedom, chatting and smiling without handcuffs in a Sydney courtroom.

For the first time in years, one of the state’s most notorious prisoners Bassam Hamzy has had a taste of freedom appearing in a crisp-white dress shirt without handcuffs in the dock of a Sydney courtroom.

Inmates will usually appear via video link from prison but the Brothers for Life gang founder was afforded the visit to Downing Centre court to take part in his pre-trial hearing.

Despite being flanked by four security guards who sat near the 43-year-old, who was sporting a shaved head with a short beard, Hamzy’s court etiquette could have been confused with that of a lawyer.

Founder of the Brothers For Life street gang Bassam Hamzy created the group from his cell in Lithgow in 2008.

He was intently focused on the hearing, taking notes, flicking through a large white file and beckoning his lawyers over, to pass on written notes to his barrister Dennis Stewart.

He seemed to be enjoying the change of scenery, occasionally looking around the courtroom and chatting and smiling with a security guard behind him.

Hamzy has been accused of heading a large-scale drug ring from inside his jail cell at NSW’s most high-security prison, Goulburn Supermax, with the help of his lawyer Martin Churchill.

He has pleaded not guilty to supplying a commercial quantity of a prohibited drug, knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime and hindering the apprehension of a person who committed a serious offence.

Hamzy has pleaded not guilty to heading a large-scale drug ring from his prison cell. Picture: NSW Police

Mr Churchill, charged with taking part in the commercial supply of drugs, knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime, hindering the apprehension of a person who committed an indictable offence and stalk or intimidate, has also pleaded not guilty.

On Friday, Judge James Bennett approved an application by the Crown for two “important if not essential” witnesses, Witness A and Witness I, to give their evidence from an undisclosed location for their own safety.

Mr Stewart opposed the application, telling the court his client should be afforded a fair trial where he had the chance to “front his accuser”.

“Mr Hamzy will be here in person. The jury will be making close observations of him … reading his body, mannerisms and the way he acts,” he told the court.

“It will be a live situation for the jury and it will have some impact, particularly if he was to go to the witness box and give evidence. He’ll be there in a three dimensional form. For him to have a fair trial there needs to be a level playing field.”

Hamzy has recently been transferred to the Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre (MRRC) at Silverwater to be closer to the city for the jury trial, which he will appear in person for.

The case will be back in court in March.