- Two former nurses arrived at court
- Pair accused of making threats to Israeli patients
Key evidence allegedly showing two former nurses discussing killing Israeli patients will face a legal challenge, threatening a prosecution of the pair.
Sarah Abu Lebdeh and Ahmad Rashad Nadir sparked outrage after a video posted on social media by Israeli social media personality Max Veifer showed them saying they would refuse to treat Israelis and kill them instead.
The pair were working at southwest Sydney’s Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital when they made the alleged threats in a conversation via online platform Chatruletka in February.
After the video of that conversation was posted on social media by Mr Veifer, the duo’s comments drew widespread condemnation, including from the prime minister and NSW premier.
The pair faced court for the first time on Wednesday, when Abu Lebdeh arrived surrounded by half a dozen black-clad supporters who kept media away.
Nadir arrived shortly after.
Neither spoke during the brief appearance in court before a magistrate adjourned both cases until May.
But Nadir’s lawyer later told reporters he planned to apply to have the key video tossed out as evidence.
Ahmad Rashad Nadir (pictured, right) arriving at Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday
Sarah Abu Lebdeh is protected by supporters at Downing Centre Local Court
‘The video … was recorded without his knowledge,’ Zemarai Khatiz said outside Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court.
‘We will apply to have it excluded.’
If the application is successful, it would leave prosecutors with little other evidence to rely on in their cases against the nurses.
Abu Lebdeh has been charged with threatening violence to a group, using a carriage service to threaten to kill and using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence.
The 26-year-old has been on bail with conditions prohibiting her from leaving Australia or using social media.
Nadir was hospitalised during the fallout following the video’s release, but was charged earlier in March with using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence and possession of a prohibited drug.
The 27-year-old previously apologised through his lawyer for the comments he made in the video.
Australia’s health practitioner watchdog has barred the duo from working as nurses nationwide and their registrations have been suspended by the NSW Nursing and Midwifery Council.
Sarah Abu Lebdeh was sheltered by supporters amid the media scrum outside of court on Wednesday
