A man of Muslim faith accused of hurling foul-mouthed, anti-Islamic comments - including death threats - towards a family picnicking at Bulli Tops earlier this month will fight the charges laid against him.
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Sharaf-Deen Yusuf faced Wollongong Local Court on Tuesday and entered not guilty pleas to charges of intimidation, driving in a dangerous manner, and using an offensive weapon.
Yusuf, 43, allegedly subjected a family of 20 people - including nine children aged under 10 - to a tirade of verbal abuse at the Bulli Tops lookout on April 7.
According to police, Yusuf - an Australian citizen of Nigerian background - yelled "F--k the Muslims. You're dead. I'll f--king kill you" towards the family before using his car to do burnouts around them.
It is understood the family, from western Sydney, were Australian citizens of Muslim faith.
Police said Yusuf was already at the barbecue area, south of Panorama House, when the family arrived in five separate vehicles.
As a man from the group got out of his car, it's alleged Yusuf walked up to the vehicle and took a photo of it, before taking images of the other cars.
Police facts state the man said "excuse me" to Yusuf but he did not respond.
The man then placed his hand on Yusuf's jumper and tugged it slightly, prompting him to allegedly reply: "Don't f--king touch me. I'll f--king kill you. You'll be dead."
Police said Yusuf continued yelling and screaming.
It's alleged he then ran to his car, drove "very fast" circles around the group about three times, and left. He returned a short time later and was stopped by police.
Yusuf has been in custody since, after his release application was denied in court the following day.
On that occasion, Yusuf lashed out, claiming he wasn't being properly represented by Legal Aid because he was "a black man" and "a Muslim".
In court on Tuesday, Yusuf's Legal Aid solicitor Tyrone Phillips entered not guilty pleas to the alleged picnic-related offences on his behalf.
The court also heard an unrelated court attendance notice, for the possession of a prohibited drug, had been served on Yusuf.
In that matter, police allege Yusuf had 1.91g of cannabis in his possession at Mangerton on February 22.
No plea was formally entered in relation to the drug possession charge.
However, Yusuf - who appeared via audio-visual link from the Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre at Silverwater jail - told Magistrate Susan McGowan he would plead not guilty.
Mr Phillips responded, telling his client: "We'll have an interview and speak to you about that."
Magistrate McGowan ordered Yusuf undergo a psychiatric assessment while in custody.
Both matters will return to court on June 4.