Sharaf-Deen Yusuf stands accused of subjecting the Sydney family of 20 people - including nine children aged under 10 - to a tirade of verbal abuse at the Bulli Tops lookout on April 7.

It is alleged Yusuf - an Australian citizen of Nigerian background who identifies as Muslim himself - 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.

He was subsequently charged with intimidation, driving in a dangerous manner, and using an offensive weapon, to which he pleaded not guilty.

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During a hearing in Wollongong Local Court on Wednesday, Daniel Massri said Yusuf was already at the barbecue area, south of Panorama House, when the family arrived in five separate vehicles.

He said Yusuf starting taking photos of their number plates, prompting another family member to approach Yusuf and try to speak to him.

Mr Massri claims Yusuf then "lost it", got "very angry" and threatened to kill the man.

Mr Massri told the court Yusuf headed to his car. He said he feared Yusuf was going to get a weapon.

He said Yusuf attempted to open his car door and grab a bag, which appeared to have a "stick" coming out from the top.

Meanwhile, Mr Massri's brother-in-law, Mohammad Jbara, who followed Yusuf to the car, described the item he saw as looking like "an axe", although said he didn't see a blade.

Both men said Yusuf eventually got in his car and drove around the family group "three or four" times in a "drifting"-style motion before driving off.

Yusuf took the stand in his own defence on Wednesday, claiming the Sydney family has been the aggressors and he had been acting out of fear for his own safety.

He said he felt concerned for his safety as soon as the five vehicles arrived at the lookout because of the "aggressive" manner in which they parked their cars.

He responded by taking photos of his surroundings, including the number plates of the vehicles, "for my safety".

He said he wanted police to be able to "track down where I was last" if something happened to him.

Yusuf claims he was approached by one of the men, who grabbed him by the shoulder and pulled his shirt off.

Yusuf said he immediately ran to his car in a bid to get away from the group.

He said at one point one of the family members was standing behind him "with a big stick" and hitting him in the head.

"I've never been assaulted like that - ever, ever," he said.

"I was concerned for my safety - I was very, very scared that I could be hurt or killed."

Yusuf also denied he had executed "doughnuts" in his car in an attempt to intimidate the group, instead claiming he was simply doing a U-turn to leave.

Magistrate Susan McGowan will deliver her judgment in the case on Friday.