Aussie News & Views: Sydney September 15 2012 CBD Muslim Insurgency rioter,Mohammed Issai Issaka pleads not guilty

Rioter Mohammed Issai Issaka's bloodied badge of dishonour

Amy Dale
The Daily Telegraph
February 28, 2013 12:00AM

ONE of the men charged over the Hyde Park Muslim riots yesterday held up a blood-stained beanie in court as evidence was heard of the confrontation between police and protesters.
Mohammed Issai Issaka has pleaded not guilty to riot, assaulting police and resisting arrest during the protest on September 15 last year, which was staged in retaliation to a YouTube clip entitled The Innocence Of Muslims.

One of the officers who arrested Issaka agreed he had been left bleeding, but said police had feared for their safety as he and other protesters surged towards them.
It is alleged Issaka joined in the protest as hundreds of people went to Hyde Park, where about 15 bottles were hurled by those in attendance.

Police say they do not accept Issaka's claim he was acting in self-defence to police restraining and hurting him during arrest.
When Senior Constable Raymond Carey was asked in evidence to confirm Issaka was wearing a white beanie during the protest, the 43-year-old Issaka held up the headwear for magistrate Jacqueline Milledge to see it was now covered with a large dried blood stain.
He held the beanie in his hands for most of the hearing.

Sen-Constable Carey told the court: "I thought I was going to be assaulted. He stepped towards me ... I wasn't going to take a chance (so) I grabbed him by the arm."
The Downing Centre Local Court heard Issaka shouted "just shoot me, just shoot me" and "flailed" his arms and legs around during his arrest. "I saw blood stains coming from his head, I thought he had hit it," Sen-Constable Carey said.
Video footage, taken from police and television cameras, was played in court and showed officers on top of Issaka near St James train station.

Sen-Constable Carey agreed he did not see Issaka throw a bottle, but said many
were left ducking for cover as the protest escalated out of control.

He said Issaka had been draped in a green flag and was with other protesters who "were yelling and screaming".
Another officer, Sen-Constable Joshua Dixon, told the court the protesters started throwing water bottles after hearing someone shout: "Why did so many people have to die in the name of religion?"
He described Issaka as looking "very threatening" during the protest.
The hearing was adjourned until May.