‘He’s an idiot, not a fighter’

A SYDNEY man accused of preparing to go to Syria to fight for Islamic State was a stupid, deluded “idiot” who had no intention of engaging in warfare, overthrowing a government or harming anyone, a jury has been told.

Moudasser Taleb, 24, has pleaded not guilty in the NSW Supreme Court to preparing to travel to Syria to engage in hostile activities.

His barrister yesterday said Taleb believed he had a chip in his head, spent most of his days on his PlayStation and the internet, and caring for his mother, who has multiple sclerosis.