Accused terror planner Hamza Abbas a ‘fishbrain’, his lawyer says
A TOP lawyer has apologised for calling her dimwitted client an idiot saying he was actually a fishbrain.
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A TOP lawyer has apologised for calling her dimwitted client an idiot saying he was actually a fishbrain.
Criminal barrister Felicity Gerry, QC, is representing 23-year-old Hamza Abbas who is on trial in the Supreme Court for planning a terrorist attack.
He has pleaded not guilty to the charge, as has his 27-year-old cousin Abdullah Chaarani, and friend and Ahmed Mohamed, 25.
MORE COVERAGE OF THE TERROR TRIAL:
‘FISH BRAIN’ TERROR ACCUSED STRUGGLED TO BUY MILK: COURT
TERRORIST ACCUSED GOADED POLICE, COURT TOLD
Abbas’s brother Ibrahim has pleaded guilty to the charge admitting he wanted to stage a deadly large scale attack.
In her closing address to the jury on Monday Ms Gerry described Hamza Abbas as an idiot caught up in his brother’s evil plan.
But she today apologised for the statement saying it was inappropriate.
“I called him an idiot yesterday and I apologise for that,” Ms Gerry said.
“It’s a rotten phrase and I shouldn’t have done it in trying to get the point across.
“The evidence is “fishbrain” that everybody agreed with.”
Following his arrest in December 2016 Hamza told police he had a “fishbrain”, a claim backed up by his brother and sister during the trial.
Ms Gerry said her client played no part in planning any attack.
He was to be used as an instrument, not a co-conspirator, she said.
Ibrahim Abbas testified that he planned to strap a suicide vest onto his brother to make him a martyr.
“There is clear evidence that Hamza Abbas was not given any details about any preparation or planning, he was not regularly associating with either the co-accused or Ibrahim Abbas, he chose not to associate with them after 20 December 2016, he never engaged in any bomb making, he wasn’t involved in any respect in respect to the purchase of machetes, he never owned a gun,” Ms Gerry said.
Prosecutors allege the four men were plotting a potentially devastating terrorist act in the CBD.
It is alleged iconic Melbourne landmarks including Federation Square, Flinders St Station and St Paul’s Cathedral were potential targets.
The four men were under surveillance until they were arrested on December 22, 2016, after authorities became concerned that an attack was imminent.
The prosecution case against the men includes surveillance footage, as well as social media messages and Islamic state propaganda found on their phones.
“Now that you have all the evidence before you, be careful to avoid hysteria about bombs, or knives, or Melbourne, or St Paul’s,” Ms Gerry said.
“Consider, does the evidence take you from here, to here, beyond a reasonable doubt? That’s what the presumption of innocence means.
“Hamza Abbas is entitled, in our submission to you, to ask you to start with that presumption of innocence and not to leap that gap.
“Reason your way, we suggest, to a not-guilty verdict.”
The trial, before Justice Christopher Beale, continues.