A 35-year-old man has been charged with multiple offences after allegedly stealing camera equipment from a victim of the Bondi Beach terror attack. The arrest occurred on Wednesday morning following an investigation by detectives into the attack, which identified that 61-year-old photographer Peter Meagher had his camera equipment stolen after being fatally shot.
Details of the Incident
Mr Meagher was among 15 people killed when Sajid and Naveed Akram allegedly opened fire at the Chanukah By the Sea event on 14 December. Police raided a home in Marayong, in Sydney’s west, at approximately 6.30am on Wednesday and arrested the suspect. He was taken to Riverstone Police Station and charged with larceny between $2,000 and $5,000, disposing of stolen property, furnishing false information to a licensee, possessing or using a prohibited weapon without a permit, and possessing and supplying drugs.
Evidence Seized
During the raid, police located and seized a camera, handcuffs, and electronic devices. A subsequent search of a car yielded a small amount of white crystal powder and further electronics. Police allege the man was also a photographer at the same Chanukah event where Mr Meagher was on assignment when he was killed.
Authorities claim the suspect stole Mr Meagher’s camera equipment and pawned it several days later. The man has been granted strict conditional bail and is scheduled to appear before Blacktown Local Court on 22 June.
Public Appeal for the Camera
The arrest comes months after Mr Meagher’s wife, Virginia, made a public appeal for the return of her husband’s beloved Canon camera, which had mysteriously disappeared. In a Facebook post in March, she wrote: 'As you all know, my husband Peter's life was tragically taken at Bondi on 14 December. It is now apparent that someone, other than a known authority, picked up his camera from Archer Park. I would very much like to have his camera returned... If you know anything about the Canon camera (as shown in these images), I'd love to hear from you. Thank you.'
The post was widely shared by Sydney locals on community pages. One person commented: 'It's hard to fathom someone would be that low, Virginia – I'm so sorry. I pray that decency prevails and it finds a way back to you.' Another wrote: 'That is appalling - sincerely hope they return Peter's camera to you!'
Peter Meagher’s Legacy
Peter, grandson of Wallabies Hall of Famer Wally Meagher, was a beloved figure at Randwick Rugby Club, where he served as a former first-grade team manager. A former NSW police officer, he was named the club’s volunteer of the year in 2020.
