AN 18-year-old Sydney man charged in relation to fights at Bondi beach early on Saturday in which six people were stabbed has been refused bail by a Sydney court.I've seen this gimmick some criminals have of changing the story they first conveyed a few times in the past, and it only serves to discredit them altogether. It appears that the suspect may have been part of one of those Muslim gangs working in Sydney, if he went and rounded up more thugs to attack the beachgoers.
Ahmad Elchami from Chester Hill in Sydney's south west is charged with one count of affray in relation to the altercations which took place shortly after midnight yesterday.
A police fact sheet tendered to the court said that witnesses told police a man of middle eastern appearance got out of a white van on Park Drive in Bondi and stabbed a 17-year-old male in the neck with a flick knife.
The offender and another man left the scene in the van but returned 10 minutes later with a group of men and a brawl broke out.
Another five males aged between 15 and 18 were stabbed during the altercation and taken to hospital.
Police established the white van belonged to Elchami and arrested him in Chester Hill yesterday afternoon.
In his initial interview with police, Elchami denied any involvement in the incident claiming he had been playing cards with friends in Granville at the time.
Elchami displayed a number of injuries including scratches to the neck, back and chest and bleeding on his right hand but he claimed he had fallen from a bike the previous day.
However his girlfriend later confirmed to police Elchami had been in Bondi on Friday night and in a subsequent interview with police Elchami changed his story, the fact sheet said.
He told police he had become involved in the fight which broke out near where his van was parked but did not know the other people involved and did not use any weapons.
He said he did not see anyone wielding knives during the fight.
Elchami appeared in Parramatta bail court today and was remanded in custody to appear at Waverley local court tomorrow.
Three of the injured youths have been released and three remain in hospital in a serious but stable condition.
NSW Premier Morris Iemma said he was disgusted by the Bondi attacks.
Mr Iemma said the government was strengthening the ability of police to crack down on violence.
"We are finalising our plans for more police – more police on the beat – and we are finalising our plans for extra police powers with particular reference to gangs," he said.
It's good to see that the Sydney police are taking more positive steps in arresting gang members like those, but even so, I still wouldn't be fooled by Morris Iemma so easily.
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