Expert testimony delays trial of Sydney nurses accused of threats

The criminal trial of two former Sydney nurses, accused of making menacing comments towards Israeli patients, is likely to be postponed until 2027. The delay stems from an "eleventh hour" submission of expert testimony concerning the Israel-Palestine conflict. Sarah Abu Lebdeh and Ahmad Rashad Nadir, who previously worked at Bankstown Hospital, have pleaded not guilty to charges of using a carriage service to menace, harass, or offend. Their trial was originally scheduled for August 31. However, a dispute over expert evidence has led to the matter being vacated. The defense team for Mr. Nadir stated that an expert report from Middle East analyst Dr. Rodger Shanahan was provided on August 5, leaving insufficient time for proper assessment and to secure their own expert. "We have to obtain our expert in order to address the matters in the report," said Zemarai Khatiz, Mr. Nadir's lawyer, estimating this process would take two to three months. Dr. Shanahan is also expected to testify at the trial. The nurses were charged after Israeli content creator Max Ilinsky, known online as Max Veifer, filmed them allegedly making threats against Israeli patients at Bankstown Hospital. The footage, captured on the cam-chat app Chatroulette, gained international attention when it surfaced in February 2025. Both nurses were dismissed from their jobs following the incident. The video was ruled admissible last month after an initial exclusion based on privacy and improper acquisition concerns. The case will next be heard at Parramatta District Court on August 21, where a new trial date is anticipated to be set, likely sometime in 2027.

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The additional brief material was dated May 31 and provided to us on August 5.