"the Syrian admitted he had sexual relations with the young girl and claimed that it was the first time had had drank alcohol and could not control himself."
I've known a lot of young Muslim males and yes, they do actually believe this kind of thing. There is also a cultural and religious mindset that allows them to tell other outrageous lies without ever being responsible for what flies out of their mouths.
This "man" believes it literally was God's will that he should drink alcohol and rape his step daughter. Whenever they make any future plans, they say aloud "Inshallah". If they say, "We'll have dinner together on Friday night, inashallah", they very literally mean "We will have dinner together on Friday night if God wills it".
Can't tell you how many clients ever told me, when we made an appointment to meet, "See you Wednesday, inshallah" and then never showed up because God willed they should go to a movie or a soccer game instead.