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SYDNEY - Nine Sydney men who have denied plotting to commit acts to prepare for a terrorist attack face the prospect of a trial lasting more than a year.
Amid tight security in the New South Wales Supreme Court today, the men pleaded not guilty and reserved their right to challenge the legality of the charge itself.
Justice Anthony Whealy said the trial should start on February 25 next year, but he noted that preliminary issues could take some time to decide before a jury can be empanelled.
He was given very rough time estimates, including three months for preliminary issues and six to eight months for the crown case to be heard.
Those charged are Omar Umar Shariff Baladjam, 30; Khaled Cheikho, 34; Moustafa Cheikho, 30; Mohamed Ali Elomar, 42; Abdul Rakib Hasan, 37; Mohamed Omar Jamal, 22; Mirsad Mulahalilovic, 30; Khaled Sharrouf, 26; and Mazen Touma, 27.
They have pleaded not guilty to conspiring -- between July 8, 2004 and November 8, 2005 -- to do acts in preparation for a terrorist act or acts.
One defence lawyer told the judge the men could not stand up in the dock when the charge was put to them because of religious reasons.
The judge replied this did not concern him.
"A jury might take a different view and regard it as a discourtesy -- judges are made of more robust material," he said.
One lawyer referred to the volume of material in the case, adding that CDs provided would take 80 days just to listen to, let alone to work out their importance to the case.
The terrorist act alleged involves the detonation of an explosive device, or devices, or the use of weaponry, or both.
Their alleged intention was to advance "a political, religious or ideological cause" with the aim of "coercing, or influencing by intimidation" the government; or of intimidating the public.
The charge further claims -- among other outcomes -- if the alleged act had been carried out it would have caused death or serious injury.
Justice Whealy said the venue of the trial had not yet been decided, but the aim was to have it at the Darlinghurst court complex, in inner Sydney, rather than in the city's far west.
In wanting to get the trial begun early next year, he said he was conscious the accused men have been in custody for a long while, probably in "fairly difficult conditions".
He set the matter down for mention on August 24.
- AAP
