A New South Wales court has ruled that the identities of multiple survivors of the Bondi terror attack and complainants in the case against alleged gunman Naveed Akram will be suppressed. The interim non-publication order, originally granted in December, protected the identities of survivors named in 59 charges against Akram unless they gave consent. More survivors later applied to have their identities protected.
Akram, 24, received 19 additional charges last month, leading to a further interim suppression order over victims and complainants named in the fresh charges, which the court heard included police officers. Crown prosecutors made a formal application for a final suppression order this month.
Local court judge Karen Stafford granted the order, which will last until the case is referred to a higher court, rather than the 50 years requested in the joint submission by prosecutors and lawyers representing other affected parties, including potential witnesses. Stafford said the evidence satisfied her that alleged victims or witnesses to the Bondi shooting have had or are more likely to suffer real risks to their mental safety.
