Sydney electrician Sam Haddad granted bail after involvement in church riot

A man who joined a riot and yelled threats to kill a teen who stabbed Assyrian Orthodox Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel during a service has been granted bail.

A man who joined a riot and yelled threats to kill a teen who stabbed Assyrian Orthodox Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel during a service has been granted bail.

Electrician Sam Haddad, a 45-year-old father of three from Fairfield, joined the violent mob of about 2000 people outside the Christ the Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley on Monday night where 51 police were injured.

Haddad appeared in Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday on charges related to the riot and threats. The court was told Haddad did not participate in the violence but yelled threats to the 16-year-old alleged attacker who was barricaded inside the church, The Sunday Telegraph reported.

“As police were holding the line…the accused yelled ‘He’s f---ing dead. He’s not leaving here alive. I’m going to jail tonight. He’s dead tonight. I’m going to jail tonight. You f---ing Muslim dog,” the police prosecutor told the court.

Sam Haddad makes his way to the train station after his court appearance. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers

Haddad was arrested at his western Sydney home on Friday and was charged with riot and affray by officers from Strike Force Dribs, which was set up to investigate the stabbing of the 53-year-old religious leader who was mid-sermon when the teen allegedly attacked.

In court on Saturday, police opposed Haddad being released on bail with the prosecutor in the matter explaining that while the electrician was not part of the violence, he wilfully took part in a riot and was a risk of repeating his alleged behaviour.

Sam Haddad (centre, black jumper with white stripe) waits for a train at Emu Plains after being released on bail from Amber Laurel Correctional Centre. Picture by Max Mason-Hubers

Haddad interjected to tell the court “I won’t do that…most of that’s untrue…I’ve got a family to look after.”

The 45-year-old’s Legal Aid lawyer told the court there was “No allegation he is in physical altercation with police” or that he had caused “damage to property”

“At its highest, the accused has made some threats to the attacker,” the lawyer told the court.

The riot took place in Box Rd, Wakely.

He told the court that Haddad’s alleged words were “not directed at police”.

“They are directed at the accused in the church,” he said.

Acting Magistrate Janet Wahlquist told the court that while the stabbing and riot combined to make what was “quite clearly a serious incident”, the police case stated that Haddad did not engage in violent behaviour.

“The police facts indicate that his role was making a threat to the alleged perpetrator of the stabbings and there was no violence (from Haddad),” she told the court.

She ordered Haddad to report to Fairfield Police once a week.

It comes as, police charged a second man on Saturday regarding the riot and charged him with making threats of violence to cause fear.

Issa Haddad, 28, was arrested at a Horningsea Park home at 7.20am during a raid on the home.

He was scheduled to face Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday but missed the cut off and is expected to front the same court on Sunday.

It is not known if he plans to defend the charge.

The Sunday Telegraph