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AAP
AAP
National
Rex Martinich

Man accused of ramming synagogue gate to seek bail

A member of a synagogue congregation was standing behind the gate when it was hit. (PR IMAGE PHOTO)

A man accused of ramming an inner-city synagogue's gate with his ute in an alleged anti-Semitic hate crime will seek bail after pleading not guilty to all charges.

Matthew Alexander Donald De Campo was arrested shortly after he allegedly knocked down the front gate of Brisbane Synagogue with a Toyota HiLux at 7.16pm on February 20.

A member of the congregation was standing behind the gate at the time but no one was injured during the incident.

The 32-year-old Sunnybank man was charged with wilful damage, serious vilification or hate crime.

CCTV image of the crime scene (file)
Matthew De Campo's charges include wilful damage, serious vilification or hate crime. (PR IMAGE PHOTO)

He is also accused of dangerously operating a vehicle, and possessing methamphetamine and the utensils for the drug's use.

De Campo's pending bail application was subject to review in Brisbane Supreme Court on Wednesday.

His wilful damage charge was aggravated by allegedly being a hate crime, defence barrister Gregory McGuire told Justice Tom Sullivan.

"The circumstances of aggravation seem to be based on an interview that he gave where he was clearly severely under the influence of drugs or mentally unwell," Mr McGuire said.

De Campo's bail application would be decided at a hearing on Monday, Justice Sullivan ordered.

The case had been mentioned for the second time earlier on Wednesday in Brisbane Magistrates Court.

De Campo's solicitor said an effort to resolve the charges had failed and the matter would proceed to trial.

"His instructions are that it is to be pleas of not guilty to all charges," the solicitor said.

De Campo remains in custody and was not required to appear in court.

Between three and six witnesses might be called for the trial, magistrate Ross Mack heard.

"Mr De Campo is alleged to have reversed the vehicle into a fence as someone stood behind the fence," the solicitor said.

Brisbane Synagogue (file)
The Jewish community was devastated by the synagogue attack, a leader said. (AAP PHOTOS)

"He was subsequently pulled out of the car at gunpoint."

It would likely take eight months before the trial could begin, Mr Mack heard.

Queensland Jewish Board of Deputies vice-president Libby Burke said the day after the incident the community was deeply distressed.

"This attack is not only an attack on my community, it is an attack on all of us," she said.

"A synagogue is a sacred space - a place of prayer, reflection and community.

"To see its gates viciously rammed is profoundly devastating and is not dissimilar to what we have seen throughout the globe."

De Campo was remanded in custody and not required to appear in court for a review of his case on July 2.

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