SYDNEY: Accused Bondi Beach killer Naveed Akram failed on Thursday (April 2) to have the identities of his family suppressed to protect them from vigilantes, with a Sydney court ruling that details were already published globally on social media.
Naveed Akram and his father Sajid are accused of opening fire on a Hanukkah celebration at the Sydney beach in December. Sajid was shot and killed by police during the attack.
Naveed Akram has been charged with terrorism, 15 counts of murder, dozens of counts of causing wounds to a person with intent to kill, and planting explosives.
The case has received "unprecedented public interest, outrage, public anger and grief", local judge Hugh Donnelly said in Sydney on Thursday, dismissing an application by Akram to have his family's home address and names suppressed and removed from media reports.
Akram, who is yet to enter a plea, watched on a video link from a high-security prison.
Akram's mother, brother and sister feared for their lives after experiencing harrassment at the family home in the Sydney suburb of Bonnyrigg, the court heard.
The attention stemmed from the posting of Akram's driving licence online with his home address before he was charged with the shootings, the court heard.
In a statement to the court, Akram's mother said her daughter had read comments online suggesting the family home "should be torched -- she feared the house could be burned down".
Akram's brother said in a court statement he lived in a state of fear that he may be shot because everyone knows his address.
Several Australian media outlets had opposed the suppression order, arguing the need for open justice.
The court's finding did not minimise the "vigilante conduct" by members of the public, Donnelly said, noting threats had lessened since the immediate aftermath of the shooting.
There was "voluminous overseas content" readily available, making any court suppression order in Australia ineffective, he said.
Akram's mother had identified herself in a media interview after the shooting, he noted. - AFP
