In the aftermath of a tragic shooting on Bondi Beach, 24-year-old Naveed Akram has appeared in court for the first time. This incident, which occurred in December, targeted the Jewish community in New South Wales, Australia.
The shooting took place on December 14 during Hanukkah celebrations at Bondi Beach, drawing a large crowd.
Authorities identified two suspects. One of them, 50-year-old Sajid Akram, was killed by police during the incident.
Alongside Sajid, the attack resulted in the deaths of 15 people, with many others sustaining injuries.
Naveed, Sajid’s son and the surviving suspect, was critically injured but later charged after receiving medical treatment.
On February 16, Naveed was presented in court, facing 59 charges related to the events of December 14. These charges include 15 counts of murder and one count of committing a terrorist act, as reported by BBC News.
The court hearing, conducted via video link, lasted under ten minutes, during which Naveed communicated solely with Deputy Chief Magistrate Sharon Freund.
A suppression order regarding the victims’ identities remains in place, and Naveed confirmed his understanding of this during the proceedings.
When informed by the judge that his solicitor would be in touch, Naveed simply responded with ‘yeah’.
Ben Archbold, Naveed’s legal representative, refrained from commenting on how his client plans to plead to the numerous charges. He stated, “There’s a client that needs to be represented. And we don’t let our personal view get in the way of our professional application,” according to VT.
Archbold also noted that Naveed is coping ‘as well as expected’ in custody, mentioning the challenging conditions of supermax detention.
Naveed’s next court date is scheduled for April 8.
Documents released in late 2022 indicate that Naveed and his deceased father engaged in firearms training in regional New South Wales weeks prior to the attack, according to ABC News.
The police statement mentioned a video showing the duo practicing with shotguns and moving tactically.
For those impacted by gun violence, more resources and support are available through Survivors Empowered on their website.