Muslim rioter 'vulnerable' to extremists

15 Oct 2012, 6:55 pm   -   Source: AAP
Two men have pleaded guilty for their part in a Sydney protest against an anti-Islamic film. (AAP)

Two men have pleaded guilty for their part in a Sydney protest against an anti-Islamic film. (AAP)

A Muslim convert has apologised and another man has paid for damage caused during a violent protest against an anti-Islamic film in Sydney.

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The first men to plead guilty over their part in a violent Muslim protest in the Sydney CBD have offered an apology and $500 to repair the smashed windscreen of a police vehicle.

Muslim convert Benjamin Homan, 23, of Bankstown in Sydney's southwest, apologised in Downing Centre Local Court on Monday for his behaviour in the demonstrations that turned into an ugly melee last month.

"I would like to sincerely apologise to the community and the police for my actions," Homan told the court.

The removalist pleaded guilty to affray and resisting arrest.

Homan, who is newly married, faces a maximum 10 years in prison for both offences.

The protest on September 15 was sparked by the US-produced YouTube film Innocence of Muslims and resulted in 25 charges laid against eight men and three teenage males.

Homan's lawyer Zaid Khan said his client was a convert to Islam who was "impressionable and vulnerable to the more extreme elements on the day".

"It's not what he signed up for," Mr Kahn told the court.

Mr Khan also said that in a letter to the court "his dad speaks of a softly spoken and gentle young man".

But prosecutor Matthew Baker said Homan's "right to express his displeasure ... ended at such a time when he decided to join the violence".

Homan had plans to move to Karratha in Western Australia the day after the riot to take up a job in mining, which the company is still holding for him, the court heard.

Magistrate Gregory Grogin adjourned the matter for sentencing on Thursday.

Omar Halaby, 18, pleaded guilty in the same court on Monday to smashing the windscreen of a police vehicle with a milk crate.

He also presented the police prosecutor with a $500 money order for the cost of repairing the vehicle.

Halaby covered his head with a blue jumper as he ran out of the court building to evade waiting journalists and cameramen.

His matter will come before court for sentencing on October 29.

Halaby did not enter a plea to a charge of affray.

Two other co-accused also appeared in the same court.

Mohammed Issaka, 43, pleaded not guilty to rioting and resisting arrest.

Abdullah Traljesic, 40, pleaded not guilty to hindering police, assaulting police and animal cruelty.

Their matters are scheduled to return to the same court on November 30.

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