A boy charged with terrorism offences downloaded videos of a deadly Christchurch mosque attack and of the Columbine High School massacre, a court has been told.
But the 14-year-old's lawyer told Darwin's Youth Justice Court on Monday his client was a "keyboard warrior" with mental health issues, not an indoctrinated follower of far-right ideology.
The Darwin boy appeared in court by video link from a youth detention centre for a bail application as family members watched from the public gallery.
The boy, who cannot be identified due to his age, first appeared in court on October 29 charged with collecting or making documents likely to facilitate terrorist acts.
That charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
He was further charged with possessing violent extremist material obtained using a carriage service, carrying a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment.
A third charge was that of possessing or controlling firearms and explosives manufacture material obtained or accessed using a carriage service, carrying a maximum five years in prison.
His lawyer Ian Rowbottam told Judge Thomasin Opie his client had mental health issues and needed professional treatment not punishment.
Among the material found in the boy's possession were videos of Brenton Tarrant's 2019 attack on the Christchurch mosque that left 51 dead as well as the 1999 Columbine High School massacre that killed 13.
Mr Rowbottam said the material was readily available on the internet as was "the anarchists' cookbook" which contained information on drug manufacture and a "mix of everything the police don't want you to know".
Also found in the boy's possession was information on how to make a 3D gun, but there was no suggestion he tried to procure the materials to do so, the lawyer said.
"This was bravado which was going nowhere ... a 14-year-old immature boy dealing with issues," Mr Rowbottam said
The suggestion that the boy was a danger to anyone relied on the assertion he was indoctrinated into far right ideas, he said.
There was no link between his client and far-right ideology at all, Mr Rowbottam said.
"One might say a keyboard warrior, suggesting things, but there's nothing to do with actual preparation," he said.
"There's a very big difference between a young man fantasising ... and carrying this out.
"He doesn't like the world and that is a problem that needs to be dealt with by appropriate mental health professionals," Mr Rowbottam said.
The boy's family was shocked by the material found in the boy's possession but were wrapping around him, he said.
Judge Opie adjourned the bail application until Friday for a report on the boy having access to a Joint Counter-Terrorism Task Force rehabilitation program.
Police have alleged the seized extremist material indicated "a mixed ideological motivation, with the glorification or support for a mass-casualty attack at a school or place of worship".
The charges followed a joint investigation by Australian Federal Police, Northern Territory Police and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation.
