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Friel denied both charges and gave evidence in his own defence during the trial. The court was told he amassed weapons last summer as he wanted to commit “suicide by cop” to help end his violent thoughts. Friel said mass shooting was a “fantasy” for him and he “felt for” incel mass murderer Elliot Rodger, but denied being an incel and described killers as “evil”. The 2014 Isla Vista killer Rodger – who murdered six people and injured 14 others – has been described as a trigger moment for the misogynistic subculture, which often involves ideas of violence towards women due to a lack of sexual activity.