Naveed Akram lost a legal bid to prevent media from naming his family amid harassment fears. Photo / Sky News
Alleged Bondi terrorist Naveed Akram has lost a legal fight to slap a gag order on the media from naming his family after they claimed they were fearful of vigilante attacks on their western Sydney home.
Akram appeared at Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court by audio-visual link this week as Judge Hugh Donnelly handed down his decision on the alleged mass murderer’s application for a non-publication and suppression orders to prevent the media from naming his mother, brother and sister.
The court was told that Akram’s family were worried about being the victims of vigilante attacks and had been repeatedly harassed, including having groups of men turn up at their door, in the wake of the mass killing.
A bottle of a yellow liquid – suspected to be urine – was also thrown into their yard and the family members also claimed they had been subjected to harassing phone calls and text messages.
Judge Hugh Donnelly ruled in favour of several media organisations who opposed the application.
“This case has unprecedented public interest, outrage, anger and grief,” Judge Donnelly said.
Akram has been charged over his alleged role in the mass shooting at the Chanukah by the Sea event on December 14 in which 15 innocent people were killed and dozens of others were injured.
He has been charged with 59 offences, including one count of terrorism, 15 counts of murder and 40 counts of attempted murder.
He has yet to enter any pleas and the brief of evidence is due to be served on his defence when he appears in court next week.
Akram and his father Sajid, 50, who was shot dead by police, are alleged to have been inspired by Isis when they attacked the Jewish festival.
During a hearing last month, Akram’s barrister Richard Wilson SC argued the alleged terrorist’s family had been threatened and intimidated at their home and “not just by keyboard warriors”.
The court was told that their home had been vandalised and pelted with food.
Barrister Matthew Lewis SC, acting for several media organisations, successfully argued that before criminal proceedings had begun, Akram’s address and licence had been posted on social media.
The court was told that a photograph of Akram’s licence, which listed the address of his Bonnyrigg home, was posted online on the night of the shooting.
Lewis also argued that Akram’s mother gave an interview to a journalist in the wake of the terrorist attack and his brother had already been identified in a story about one of his family’s attempts to visit Goulburn jail.
Judge Donnelly refused to make a non-publication order over the family’s home, saying that the information was already in the public domain.
“The incident and threats and harassment from strangers towards the occupants stems from and is causally connected to the posting online of the applicant’s [Akram’s] driver’s licence on the night of the incident,” Judge Donnelly said.
He also said Akram’s family were not named or referenced in the alleged police facts and it was not anticipated that they would be called in any court proceedings.
Judge Donnelly also took into account that any proposed order would not impact social media platforms or overseas news organisations.
He also found a non-publication order over Akram’s mother’s name lacked utility because she had given an interview to Nine Newspapers.
Judge Donnelly also dismissed an application for a non-publication order over any school or workplace associated with Akram’s family because there was no evidence they were a risk of being attacked or harassed there.
Akram did not react as he watched the proceedings via videolink from Goulburn Supermax prison.
His matter will return to court next week.
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