An alleged kidnapping victim has been described by his mother as a drug addict during a trial in the Launceston Supreme Court.
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Both Anthony Mekhael and his mother, Marlene Mekhael, took the stand on Friday during the fifth day of a trial into his alleged abduction in 2015.
The Victorian man accused six Tasmanians of taking part in a three-day ordeal where he was allegedly held at gunpoint, robbed and assaulted on a number of occasions.
The accused are Caine Robert Richardson, Sean Gregory Richardson, Christopher John Humphreys, Matthew Luke Williams, Malcolm Joshua Mayne and Carly Ann Dekkers.
All six have pleaded not guilty.
Mr Mekhael has been questioned by both the Crown and defence counsels this week, but has maintained he “can’t recall” anything from 2015 as a result of “heavy” drug use.
On Friday, Mr Caine Richardon’s defence laywer Evan Hughes questioned the alleged victim again, suggesting Mr Mekhael did in fact come to Tasmania in 2015, but was not kidnapped.
Mr Hughes said Mr Mekhael owed a drug debt to Lebanese men in Victoria and had asked some of the accused for help.
He went on to suggest Mr Mekhael was “desperate” for money and had taken Mr Caine Richardson to a house to meet three Lebanese men in Tasmania.
He suggested it was at that house that Mr Mekhael was assaulted by the three men and not Mr Caine Richardson.
Mr Mekhael continued to respond “can’t recall”.
Similar suggestions were put to his mother, Marlene Mekhael, by defence lawyer Greg Richardson, who is representing Mr Humphreys.
Mrs Mekhael previously gave evidence that her son had called her in February, 2015 and said he needed money and asked her to “call the authorities”.
“Then I knew my son was in a lot of trouble,” she said.
Mr Richardson suggested, however, that Mr Mekhael had led his mother to believe he was in trouble so she would send him money, because she had “made it clear” she wouldn’t pay for his addiction to drugs and gambling.
“If he had a drug or gambling debt you made it clear to him you wouldn’t pay,” Mr Richardson said.
Mrs Mekhael responded “yes”.
The trial is expected to continue on Monday.
