An indoctrinated progeny of immigrantsNo conviction, no punishment for law student Omar El-Sobihy over assault at pro-Palestine Opera House rally
In short:
A law student has avoided a convictionover an assault at a pro-Palestinian rally at Sydney Opera House.
Omar El-Sobihy, 20, was given a sternwarning from the magistrate to "decide who [he wants] to be".
Mr El-Sobihy was given a six-month conditional release order, and hislawyer said he was "relieved" the case was over.
A law student who pleaded guilty to an assaultduring a rally at the Sydney Opera House has avoided a conviction with a sternwarning from a magistrate that he must "decide who you want to be".
Omar El-Sobihy had previously denied two counts ofassault, after images of him were released by NSW Police as they sought publichelp identifying people who were at the rally in October.
Hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters had gatheredat the landmark, which was lit blue and white in solidarity with Israelfollowing the Hamas attacks on the Jewish state.
On the day his case was due for a hearing, the20-year-old pleaded guilty to one of the counts and the second charge waswithdrawn.
Defence lawyer Ehab Ghabach told Downing CentreLocal Court his client accepted he had a "lapse in judgement" which,coupled with immaturity, led him to push another man.
Mr Ghabach said there were high tensions and highemotions at the event.
Mr El-Sobihy found the experience of going to courtas a defendant "quite daunting", Mr Ghabach said.
In short:
A law student has avoided a conviction over an assault at a pro-Palestinian rally at Sydney Opera House.
Omar El-Sobihy, 20, was given a stern warning from the magistrate to "decide who [he wants] to be".
Mr El-Sobihy was given a six-month conditional release order, and his lawyer said he was "relieved" the case was over.
A law student who pleaded guilty to an assault during a rally at the Sydney Opera House has avoided a conviction with a stern warning from a magistrate that he must "decide who you want to be".
Omar El-Sobihy had previously denied two counts of assault, after images of him were released by NSW Police as they sought public help identifying people who were at the rally in October.
Hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters had gathered at the landmark, which was lit blue and white in solidarity with Israel following the Hamas attacks on the Jewish state.
On the day his case was due for a hearing, the 20-year-old pleaded guilty to one of the counts and the second charge was withdrawn.
Defence lawyer Ehab Ghabach told Downing Centre Local Court his client accepted he had a "lapse in judgement" which, coupled with immaturity, led him to push another man.
Mr Ghabach said there were high tensions and high emotions at the event.
Mr El-Sobihy found the experience of going to court as a defendant "quite daunting", Mr Ghabach said.
A pro-Palestinian rally outside Sydney Opera House on October 9, 2023.(AAP: Dean Lewins)In sentencing, Deputy Chief Magistrate Theo Tsavdaridis told the student he needed to keep an "unblemished record" if he wanted to become a lawyer.
"You need to decide who you want to be," he said.
"Some freelancer, some protester, some social justice warrior, or do you want to finish your studies in law and become a lawyer?"
The deputy chief magistrate accepted there was some level of provocation on the part of the complainant, in the form of "obscenities" directed at Mr El-Sobihy's camp.
The student's two co-accused had shoulder charged the victim before Mr El-Sobihy then pushed them in the back.
According to the agreed facts, none of the parties were known to one another and the entire incident was recorded on CCTV.
The 45-year-old victim was a man who was headed to the Opera House to watch the lighting of the sails.
As he approached, he heard unidentified people in the crowd chanting "Death to Israel" and "f*** the Jews", the court documents say.
Omar El-Sobihy (right) with his defence lawyer Ehab Ghabach.(ABC News)There is no evidence Mr El-Sobihy participated in those chants.
The victim reacted to the chants in anger, saying "f*** Hamas, down with terrorists", according to the agreed facts.
Magistrate Tsavdaridis said Mr El-Sobihy needed to think about "who you hang out with and where you go", warning him that he should never be in a courtroom sitting in the defendant's chair.
"You'll have one opportunity to prove yourself, don't blow it," he said.
"The next time you appear before me, you better be a lawyer."
Mr El-Sobihy was handed a six-month conditional release order without a conviction.
"It is patently obvious how quickly these types of offences can escalate and become more serious," Magistrate Tsavdaridis said.
Outside court, Mr Ghabach said his client was "relieved" the case was finished.
