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http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23551753-2862,00.html
Terror trial witness talked to birds, jury hears
Katie Bice
April 17, 2008 12:00am
A MAN who claimed the MCG was the target of a Melbourne terror plot had suffered schizophrenic hallucinations about devils and being able to talk to birds, a court heard yesterday.
A key witness in the trial of 12 men accused of forming a home-grown terror cell faced repeated attacks on his credibility a day after naming the 2005 Grand Final, the NAB Cup and Crown casino as targets of the group.
The Supreme Court heard Izzydeen Atik, 27, used money fraudulently obtained through stolen credit cards to drive a BMW and live in a three-storey beachfront home.
The unemployed Mr Atik hired a butler to do his shopping, washing and cleaning and lied about needing a carer so his brother could get a government pension, the court heard.
Mr Atik has told the jury the group's leader, Abdul Nacer Benbrika, named targets for terrorist attacks in 2005.
But yesterday he said he couldn't remember much of his recent mental health history.
Remy van de Wiel, QC, for Mr Benbrika, read from psychiatric reports in which Mr Atik complained of hearing voices.
The jury heard Mr Atik said a man named Andrew was telling him to do bad things and he had a vision of a devil girl.
"Andrew won't leave me alone. He tells me he is going to kill me," Mr Atik said in a transcript read to the court.
"I see another one, a girl, not a human, a devil . . . she scares me."
Mr van de Wiel said Mr Atik had also said birds spoke to him about their problems and he gave advice to them.
But Mr Atik repeatedly denied any memory of the visions.
"Is this some game that you are playing, that you don't want to remember anything?" Mr van de Wiel asked.
Mr Atik replied: "I don't play games."
Those who have pleaded not guilty to being members of a terror organisation are: Mr Benbrika, 48, of Dallas; Abdullah Merhi, 22, of Fawkner; Shane Kent, 31, of Meadow Heights; Majed Raad, 23, of Coburg; Aimen Joud, 23, of Hoppers Crossing; Ahmed Raad, 24, of Fawkner; Fadl Sayadi, 28, of Coburg; Ezzit Raad, 26, of Preston; Hany Taha, 33, of Hadfield; Shoue Hammoud, 28, of Hadfield; Bassam Raad, 26, of Brunswick; and Amer Haddara, 28, of Yarraville.
The trial before Justice Bernard Bongiorno continues.
Terror trial witness talked to birds, jury hears
Katie Bice
April 17, 2008 12:00am
A MAN who claimed the MCG was the target of a Melbourne terror plot had suffered schizophrenic hallucinations about devils and being able to talk to birds, a court heard yesterday.
A key witness in the trial of 12 men accused of forming a home-grown terror cell faced repeated attacks on his credibility a day after naming the 2005 Grand Final, the NAB Cup and Crown casino as targets of the group.
The Supreme Court heard Izzydeen Atik, 27, used money fraudulently obtained through stolen credit cards to drive a BMW and live in a three-storey beachfront home.
The unemployed Mr Atik hired a butler to do his shopping, washing and cleaning and lied about needing a carer so his brother could get a government pension, the court heard.
Mr Atik has told the jury the group's leader, Abdul Nacer Benbrika, named targets for terrorist attacks in 2005.
But yesterday he said he couldn't remember much of his recent mental health history.
Remy van de Wiel, QC, for Mr Benbrika, read from psychiatric reports in which Mr Atik complained of hearing voices.
The jury heard Mr Atik said a man named Andrew was telling him to do bad things and he had a vision of a devil girl.
"Andrew won't leave me alone. He tells me he is going to kill me," Mr Atik said in a transcript read to the court.
"I see another one, a girl, not a human, a devil . . . she scares me."
Mr van de Wiel said Mr Atik had also said birds spoke to him about their problems and he gave advice to them.
But Mr Atik repeatedly denied any memory of the visions.
"Is this some game that you are playing, that you don't want to remember anything?" Mr van de Wiel asked.
Mr Atik replied: "I don't play games."
Those who have pleaded not guilty to being members of a terror organisation are: Mr Benbrika, 48, of Dallas; Abdullah Merhi, 22, of Fawkner; Shane Kent, 31, of Meadow Heights; Majed Raad, 23, of Coburg; Aimen Joud, 23, of Hoppers Crossing; Ahmed Raad, 24, of Fawkner; Fadl Sayadi, 28, of Coburg; Ezzit Raad, 26, of Preston; Hany Taha, 33, of Hadfield; Shoue Hammoud, 28, of Hadfield; Bassam Raad, 26, of Brunswick; and Amer Haddara, 28, of Yarraville.
The trial before Justice Bernard Bongiorno continues.