NSW: Alleged bomb conversation really about marriage - court

AAP General News (Australia)
02-11-2008
NSW: Alleged bomb conversation really about marriage - court

A NSW jury has been told a prisoner's phone conversation with his girlfriend was raising
the idea of him marrying two women .. not about placing a bomb on a Sydney street.

It's alleged HUSSAN KALACHE discussed the bomb plan with his girlfriend JILL ALLISON
COURTNEY during a phone conversation on July 23 2005.

But COURTNEY's barrister JULIA HICKLETON has told the Supreme Court jury that after
the recorded call ended .. KALACHE and COURTNEY continued their conversation in another
call a few minutes later.

Ms HICKLETON says in that conversation KALACHE tells COURTNEY of his new idea about
marrying two women .. as is permitted in the Muslim faith.

27 year-old COURTNEY from Casula and 28 year-old KALACHE .. who was an inmate at Lithgow
prison .. west of Sydney .. have pleaded not guilty to conspiring to murder unknown persons
between June 1 2005 and March 24 2006.

They've also refused to accept a lesser charge of conspiring to cause an explosive
to be placed in or near a public place with the intent to cause actual bodily harm to
unknown persons.

The crown alleges the calls reveal COURTNEY was very much in love with KALACHE and
she agreed to plant a bomb in return for a promise of marriage.

The trial is continuing.

AAP RTV mss/wjf/sw/bart

KEYWORD: COURTNEY (SYDNEY)

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