Court rules identities of multiple Bondi attack survivors cannot be published

A New South Wales local court has granted a final suppression order preventing the publication of multiple survivors’ and complainants’ identities in the Bondi attack case against alleged attacker Naveed Akram.

Guardian reporting said the judge accepted evidence that the affected people would face real risks to their mental safety if the order was not made. The order will remain in place until the case is referred to a higher court.

What the order covers

The ruling covers multiple survivors and complainants connected to the case. Guardian reporting also said the fresh charges against Akram included a number of victims and complainants, including police officers.

The court did not grant the 50-year order sought in a joint submission by prosecutors and lawyers for affected parties. Instead, it made a final suppression order tied to referral of the matter to a higher court.

How the case reached this point

The suppression fight has been running alongside the criminal proceedings against Akram.

Guardian reporting said an interim non-publication order granted in December had already protected some survivors named in the 59 charges against him unless they consented. More survivors later applied for their identities to be protected after fresh charges were added.

The Guardian also reported that Akram received 19 additional charges last month, and that those fresh charges carried an interim suppression order over several victims and complainants.

Earlier in April, a Sydney court rejected Akram’s bid to suppress the identities of his family members.

Media response and next steps

Matthew Lewis SC, who represented five media publications including Guardian Australia, did not oppose the final application but sought amendments to the orders. Some of those amendments were agreed to.

Akram did not attend the hearing and has not yet entered a plea.

The suppression order remains in force unless and until the case is referred to a higher court. Media organisations may still seek changes if circumstances change.