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‘He said he would slaughter me’

A Sydney cleaner says a man he thought was an Islamic State supporter threatened to slaughter him for being Christian.

Police allege Sulayman Khalid threatened to kill Patius Matlub in August last year.

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Khalid has pleaded guilty to a charge of intimidation, but is fighting a charge of affray.

Two days before the alleged threat, on SBS’s Insight program, Khalid entered the debate over Australians being drawn to overseas conflicts.

“This is a personal choice of anyone, whoever wants to go and fight,” he told the program.

In Bankstown Local Court on Tuesday, the Iraqi-born cleaner said Khalid accused him of being an “infidel”.

“He is saying ‘you’re Christian, you’re an infidel, we’re waiting for you outside’,” Mr Matlub told the court.

“He said he would slaughter me,” adding that he feared for his safety.

Mr Matlub made the claim after repeated questioning, but in cross-examination Khalid’s barrister accused the alleged victim of lying.

Mr Fozzard: “It’s an absolute fabrication.”
Mr Matlub: “He said it.”
Mr Fozzard: “It’s a lie, sir.”
Mr Matlub: “No, it’s not a lie.”

Khalid’s family also accused the cleaner of fabricating the claims.

His sister Maryam Khalid described Tuesday’s court proceedings as “beyond a joke”.

“He had no intent of assaulting anyone, no intent of hurting anyone,” she said.

The magistrate described the alleged affray as the most sedate he had ever seen.

The case returns to court in September.

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