The man accused of raping and murdering Sydney teenager Mahmoud Hrouk has denied any involvement in the crime and fears for his safety while being held in custody, his lawyer says.
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Aymen Terkmani, 22, of Fairfield East, was arrested on Thursday and charged with murder and aggravated sexual assault.
He did not appear in person before Fairfield Local Court on Friday.
Mr Terkmani's lawyer, Fadi Abbas, did not apply for bail on Friday but said outside court he planned to apply later.
"My client strongly denies these allegations," he said.
Mr Abbas, in making a failed application for a suppression order on his client's name, said Mr Terkmani faced violence in jail.
"If the other inmates know who he is, it's likely he may be in danger."
Associates of the accused reacted angrily to journalists' questions outside court, with one man throwing away a reporter's microphone.
The body of Mahmoud, a 16-year-old former Granville High School student, was found beaten and unrecognisable in a derelict house on Belmore Street in Fairfield East on May 17.
It is understood Mahmoud met Mr Terkmani, whom he considered a friend, at Villawood McDonald's on May 16. The pair arrived at 6.30pm and stayed for about an hour.
Mahmoud called his mother about 9.40pm but the call cut out.
The bike he had ridden to the McDonald's was seen on Mitchell Street that night and found on Melaleuca Street the next day.
Mahmoud's mother, Maha Dunia, has described her son as "a beautiful boy" and her best friend.
Police said he was hardworking and had no criminal history. Their investigations are ongoing.
Mr Terkmani will appear in Campbelltown Local Court via video link next week.
Mahmoud's father, Azzam Hrouk, told Fairfax Media he wished to thank the police, the community and the media for their support of his family.
"It's a sad moment but at least we are getting justice for our son," he said.
Mr Hrouk singled out Detective Sergeant Christian Olivares of the NSW homicide squad for special praise.
Mr Terkmani is due to appear before Campbelltown Local Court via video link next Wednesday.