The boy’s parents leave Parramatta Children’s Court on Thursday after their son was refused bail on a terror charge.
The 15-year-old boy was charged on Friday with conspiring to prepare or plan a terrorist act after the Joint Counter-terrorism Team raided properties across Sydney on April 24.
At Parramatta Children’s Court on Thursday,magistrate James Viney denied bail for the boy because of an “unacceptable risk for the protection of the community”,and as the defence had not established exceptional circumstances for his release.
Viney said the risk arose from the boy’s alleged “explicit threats to stab either Jewish or Assyrian people”. The magistrate also highlighted the boy had been charged with multiple offences including assault and having a knife after an incident at a Lurnea bottle shop on April 22 when he allegedly threw a plank of wood.
The boy’s lawyers had proposed a number of bail conditions including a $1.5 million surety,wearing an ankle bracelet and home detention.
Viney said the boy’s young age and a time delay until a potential trial were “very concerning”. He was also critical of the Crown for not being able to provide an estimate of when the brief of evidence would be served on the defence.
The magistrate said the court had “no doubt that the young person’s parents love and support him”,acknowledging their presence in court during Wednesday’s hearing and Thursday’s decision,and that they had appeared “genuinely shocked” by the charge against their son.
Asked outside court about the bail refusal,defence lawyer Ahmed Dib said the loving family was “obviously” disappointed,and they would be taking the matter to the NSW Supreme Court.