ID :
205816
Wed, 09/07/2011 - 14:25
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/205816
The shortlink copeid
Siege daughter says she was not a hostage
SYDNEY (AAP) - 07 Sept - The girl at the centre of an 11-hour siege at a western Sydney lawyer's office says she chose to stay with her father and wasn't a hostage.
"He didn't keep me hostage, I wanted to stay," the 12-year-old told Seven News.
"He told me that I could go but I really wanted to stay with dad ... because I was scared that he would have got hurt."
The girl said she was "terrified" when police raided the legal office at Parramatta and she was overcome by fumes about 8.20pm (AEST) on Tuesday.
"We could hear these walls ripping and then I see, like, a chainsaw going through the wall, and yeah they cut the wall open and they chucked the gas," she said.
But throughout the siege that had began at 8.50am (AEST), she said she never felt like her dad would hurt her or that he had a bomb in his backpack, as he allegedly told police.
"I knew that he wouldn't have something like that ... otherwise he wouldn't take me in that room with him," she said.
The girl said she's feeling okay but was concerned about her father.
"I'm really worried about him and want to see if he's okay."
The 52-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been charged with detaining his daughter at the Arthur Phillips Chambers on George Street.
Police allege he falsely claimed he had a bomb and demanded $4500 from an Aboriginal Land Council.
The man, a former Aboriginal activist from central western NSW, was remanded in custody on Wednesday after his case was heard briefly at Parramatta Local Court.
When the girl was rescued from the office she said she screamed out: "Don't hurt my dad, that's my dad".
He now faces charges of detaining a person with intent to obtain advantage, giving false information to police, remaining in a building with intent to commit an indictable offence, common assault and three counts of damaging property.
Police alleged the man poses a "significant risk" to the community and that the alleged incident was a "well-orchestrated plan".
He allegedly made three demands during the siege, including access to a barrister, Brian Hancock, and that legal action be taken against a man named Matthew Turner.
The man has also been charged with assaulting a woman during the alleged incident, breaking a window in the office and breaking two vases.
Police allege the man has a lengthy criminal history, including firearms offences, breaching bail and failing to appear in court.
"Investigators fear that due to the strong prosecution case, there is a strong and real likelihood he will receive a lengthy custodial sentence," the police facts tendered to the court stated.
The case was adjourned until September 15.
"He didn't keep me hostage, I wanted to stay," the 12-year-old told Seven News.
"He told me that I could go but I really wanted to stay with dad ... because I was scared that he would have got hurt."
The girl said she was "terrified" when police raided the legal office at Parramatta and she was overcome by fumes about 8.20pm (AEST) on Tuesday.
"We could hear these walls ripping and then I see, like, a chainsaw going through the wall, and yeah they cut the wall open and they chucked the gas," she said.
But throughout the siege that had began at 8.50am (AEST), she said she never felt like her dad would hurt her or that he had a bomb in his backpack, as he allegedly told police.
"I knew that he wouldn't have something like that ... otherwise he wouldn't take me in that room with him," she said.
The girl said she's feeling okay but was concerned about her father.
"I'm really worried about him and want to see if he's okay."
The 52-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been charged with detaining his daughter at the Arthur Phillips Chambers on George Street.
Police allege he falsely claimed he had a bomb and demanded $4500 from an Aboriginal Land Council.
The man, a former Aboriginal activist from central western NSW, was remanded in custody on Wednesday after his case was heard briefly at Parramatta Local Court.
When the girl was rescued from the office she said she screamed out: "Don't hurt my dad, that's my dad".
He now faces charges of detaining a person with intent to obtain advantage, giving false information to police, remaining in a building with intent to commit an indictable offence, common assault and three counts of damaging property.
Police alleged the man poses a "significant risk" to the community and that the alleged incident was a "well-orchestrated plan".
He allegedly made three demands during the siege, including access to a barrister, Brian Hancock, and that legal action be taken against a man named Matthew Turner.
The man has also been charged with assaulting a woman during the alleged incident, breaking a window in the office and breaking two vases.
Police allege the man has a lengthy criminal history, including firearms offences, breaching bail and failing to appear in court.
"Investigators fear that due to the strong prosecution case, there is a strong and real likelihood he will receive a lengthy custodial sentence," the police facts tendered to the court stated.
The case was adjourned until September 15.
