The murder of Curtis Cheng

  1. 28,448 Posts.
    lightbulb Created with Sketch. 423
    Man refuses to stand for Supreme Court Justice as he is sentenced for role in Curtis Cheng murder
    By Kathleen Calderwood
    Updated 38 minutes ago
    Photo: Milad Atai said he was happy to be involved in Curtis Cheng's murder. (Facebook)
    Related Story: 'I'm not sorry': Accused says no regrets over Curtis Cheng murder
    A 22-year-old man laughed and refused to stand for a Supreme Court Justice as he was sentenced to a maximum 38 years in prison for his role in the murder of police accountant Curtis Cheng in October 2015.

    Key points:
    • Milad Atai last week said he was "happy" to be involved in Mr Cheng's murder
    • Today a Supreme Court justice described Atai's risk of reoffending as significant
    • Atai helped the man who bought the gun that was used to kill Mr Cheng
    Milad Atai pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting 15-year-old Farhad Mohammad, who went onto murder Mr Cheng outside Parramatta Police Headquarters in a terrorist act.
    Atai also pleaded guilty to two other charges for funding Islamic State.
    In sentencing, Justice Peter Johnson told the Parramatta Supreme Court Atai showed no remorse and his risk of reoffending was significant.
    Atai refused to stand for the judge and when sentenced, as he has throughout the court proceedings, and laughed when first hearing of the length of his sentence.
    As he was leaving the dock, Atai spoke loudly in another language and gave a one-fingered salute which has become associated with Islamic State.
    Justice Johnson said Atai's revoking of his statements of remorse — which he did in two letters sent to the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the Crown Prosecutor in October — were a "cruel act" to the Cheng family.
    "The strength and decency of the Cheng family may be contrasted with the cowardice and moral depravity of the offender," he said.
    Atai assisted Raban Alou in the weeks leading up to the terrorist act, by accompanying him to meetings where he was trying to buy a gun for the 15-year-old and get an Islamic State flag made.
    Alou eventually sourced a gun from Talal Alameddine on October 2 and gave it to Mohammad at the Parramatta Mosque immediately before he went to the Parramatta Police Headquarters.
 
arrow-down-2 Created with Sketch. arrow-down-2 Created with Sketch.