Byron Sonne, the so-called “G20 geek” sought help creating something that would “provoke the government and security forces” into a response that would “blow up in their face later,” his trial on explosives charges heard Tuesday.

The 39-year-old Forest Hill computer consultant who was arrested prior to the G20 summit and charged with four counts of possessing explosive devices, and one of inciting others to commit an indictable offence, won’t be called to the stand, his lawyers say.

Sonne, a hobby chemist and hacker, is accused of storing explosive chemicals in his basement leading up to the G20 in 2010. He has admitted to possessing materials that could be used to make explosives, but that he had not combined them. His supporters say he was simply testing the limits of G20 intelligence and security.

On Tuesday, Crown prosecutor Elizabeth Nadeau cross-examined information security expert Fryderyk Supinski, the only witness for the defence. Supinski, who befriended Sonne through Hacklab, a Toronto space where computer enthusiasts go to work on and share ideas about various projects, was asked about a November 2009 email Sonne sent to an online Hacklab discussion group.

Entitled “Tickling the Dragon,” Sonne started out by saying “Hey all. So I feel in a civilly disobedient mood, but what’s new eh?”

After the segment about provoking the government and security forces, Sonne asks the discussion what could be created, either software or hardware that would a) “piss people off” b) be almost guaranteed to be illegal right off the bat and c) be relatively morally “clean.” The email did not mention the G20.

Nadeau, the prosecutor, asked Supinski if he was surprised Sonne would write such a note.

“It would be a little out of character I suppose, but . . . we all have our phases and moods right?

Supinski went on to tell Nadeau: “I really didn’t read too deeply into this, if that’s what you’re asking.”

Sonne’s trial continues.