A Sydney nurse who was suspended after a viral video showing her allegedly threatening Israeli patients has had a charge of threatening to kill dropped. Sarah Abu Lebdeh, 27, appeared at Downing Centre local court on Tuesday, where prosecutors withdrew the charge of using a carriage service to threaten to kill.
Abu Lebdeh still faces two other charges: threatening violence to a group and using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence. She has not yet entered pleas to these charges. The charges stem from a video in which Abu Lebdeh and colleague Ahmad Rashad Nadir, 28, allegedly said they would refuse to treat Israeli patients and appeared to threaten violence.
The pair were working a night shift at Bankstown-Lidcombe hospital when they made the comments during a video chat with Israeli influencer Max Veifer, who shared the footage online. The video sparked widespread condemnation, including from the prime minister and NSW premier.
Both nurses have been prohibited from working as nurses nationwide by Australia's health practitioner watchdog, and their registrations have been suspended in NSW. Nadir was hospitalised after the video emerged and was later charged with using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence, and possession of a prohibited drug. He has pleaded not guilty to the drug charge and is yet to enter a plea to the other charge.
Nadir previously described the incident as a 'big mistake' and a 'joke gone wrong', apologising for any offence caused. Both nurses remain on bail under strict conditions, including a ban on using social media and leaving the country.
