Adelaide man not guilty of encouraging others to kill Jews
A 52-year-old Adelaide man who posted videos on Facebook encouraging the killing of Jewish people has been found not guilty of advocating terrorism as he was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia at the time.
Adelaide
He is the first Australian to be charged with advocating terrorism in December 2016. He was arrested by Australian Federal Police following information received through the National Security Hotline.
ABC has reported that during July 2015 and January 2016 the man posted four videos on Facebook where he encouraged others to kill Israeli soldiers and Jewish people.
Speaking Arabic in the videos, he referred to himself as a commander with links to Hezbollah, and could be seen brandishing weapons. In one of the videos, which had been viewed more than 19,000 times, he calls for Jewish people to be attacked with knives.
Police seized a knife, tomahawk, and a chainsaw from his home.
As the man was charged under Commonwealth law, a jury had to determine whether or not he was mentally impaired at the time of the offending, whereas under state law, the finding can be made by a judge.
The trial which went for fewer than two hours, was somewhat unusual because no witnesses would be called to give evidence. Two forensic psychiatrists who assessed his client agreed he was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia at the time.
The ABS reports that in one of the videos the man, whose name was suppressed, said: ”
“When you come to a Jew, any Jew, even an old one who looks humble, pretending to be humble … strike him in the head, when you strike him in the head, he will not even sneeze, he will die.”
The man, who has been in custody since his arrest, will face court again on Thursday.
