Court adjourns Naveed Akram's Bondi case as prosecutors seek more time

Prosecution says consultations with victims and families need more time; next hearing set for 24 February

By LineZotpaper AI staff

Published28 October 2026

Read Time2 min

The criminal case against Naveed Akram over his alleged role in the Bondi terror attack has been adjourned until 24 February, after a prosecutor told Sydney’s Downing Centre local court the joint counter-terrorism team had run an investigation “the size of which has been unprecedented.”

Akram, 24, and his father, 50-year-old Sajid Akram, allegedly murdered 15 people after opening fire at a Hanukah festival at Bondi beach on 14 December. Forty people were injured. Sajid Akram was shot and killed by police at the scene, while Naveed Akram survived a shootout with police and has been charged with 78 offences, including 15 counts of murder and one count of committing a terrorist act that investigators allege may have been “inspired by Isis.” He is yet to enter a plea.

Prosecutor Danielle New made the adjournment application on Wednesday without opposition from Akram’s defence team. Judge Karen Stafford granted it after New said prosecutors needed more time to consult the alleged victims and next of kin on the charges before the offences are certified, a standard step in which prosecutors formally list the offences proceeding to trial. “It’s important the crown goes over everything again, to make sure no person’s narrative is left untold,” New told the court.

New said prosecutors had completed their brief of evidence, which had been delayed by the volume of material involved. The brief included thousands of witness statements, medical records, financial statements and purchases made by the Akrams, and footage from Bondi beach on the evening of the attack. Akram was charged with 59 offences in December, with 19 more added in April.

A police fact sheet released through the courts in December alleged there was evidence that the pair “meticulously planned this terrorist attack for many months,” including the creation of an “ISIS inspired” video, firearm training and the making of explosives. Police also alleged the pair undertook a reconnaissance visit to Bondi two days before the attack, visiting the footbridge from which they are accused of deliberately firing at those gathered at the Jewish festival.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

The case will return to court on 24 February, when prosecutors are expected to be ready to certify the charges against Naveed Akram.
The alleged attack on a Hanukah festival raises serious questions about terrorism targeting religious gatherings, and the delays mean victims and families are waiting longer for the formal charging process to conclude.
The “unprecedented” scale of the investigation, involving thousands of witness statements and a large volume of evidence, has already extended the legal timetable.

Background

The Downing Centre local court handles criminal matters before they are committed to a higher court, and the certification process is a standard step in which prosecutors formally list the offences proceeding to trial. The attack took place in mid-December at Bondi beach, when two people allegedly opened fire on those gathered at a Jewish festival. Police have said Sajid Akram was killed at the scene, and the surviving defendant, Naveed Akram, was later charged with offences including murder and committing a terrorist act.

What to Watch

Whether prosecutors meet the 24 February deadline to certify the charges against Akram.
Whether Akram enters a plea when the matter next appears in court.
Whether further details emerge from the brief of evidence, including the alleged “ISIS inspired” video, firearm training and reconnaissance visit to Bondi.

Sources

Criminal case against alleged Bondi terrorist delayed amid ‘unprecedented’ investigation · The Guardian

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedThe court adjourned Naveed Akram’s case until 24 February as prosecutors sought more time.World news | The Guardian: “The matter will not return to court until 24 February after it was adjourned on Wednesday before Sydney’s Downing Centre local court.”
SupportedProsecutors said they needed more time to consult alleged victims and next of kin before the charges were certified.World news | The Guardian: “The judge, Karen Stafford, granted the adjournment after New argued more time was needed so investigators could consult the Akrams’ alleged victims and next of kin on the charges laid against Akram ahead of the offences being certified before the court.”
SupportedProsecutor Danielle New told the court the joint counter-terrorism team’s investigation was unprecedented in size.World news | The Guardian: ““The [joint counter-terrorism team] has engaged in an investigation the size of which has been unprecedented,” New told the court.”
SupportedThe alleged attack took place at a Hanukah festival at Bondi beach on 14 December.World news | The Guardian: “Akram, 24, and his father, 50-year-old Sajid Akram, allegedly murdered 15 people after opening fire at a Hanukah festival at Bondi beach on 14 December.”
SupportedThe Akrams allegedly murdered 15 people.World news | The Guardian: “Akram, 24, and his father, 50-year-old Sajid Akram, allegedly murdered 15 people after opening fire at a Hanukah festival at Bondi beach on 14 December.”
SupportedForty people were injured.World news | The Guardian: “Forty people were injured.”
SupportedNaveed Akram has been charged with 78 offences, including 15 counts of murder and one count of committing a terrorist act that investigators allege may have been inspired by Isis.World news | The Guardian: “Naveed Akram, who survived a shootout with police, has been charged with 78 offences, including 15 counts of murder and one count of committing a terrorist act that investigators allege may have been “inspired by Isis”.”
SupportedAkram is yet to enter a plea.World news | The Guardian: “Prosecutors expect to be ready to certify the charges against Akram, who is yet to enter a plea, by that date.”
SupportedDanielle New applied for the adjournment on Wednesday without opposition from Akram’s defence team, and Judge Karen Stafford granted it.World news | The Guardian: “The prosecutor, Danielle New, made the application for the adjournment, without opposition from Akram’s defence team, on Wednesday. The judge, Karen Stafford, granted the adjournment”
SupportedNew told the court, “It’s important the crown goes over everything again, to make sure no person’s narrative is left untold.”World news | The Guardian: ““It’s important the crown goes over everything again, to make sure no person’s narrative is left untold,” New told the court.”
SupportedA police fact sheet alleged the pair planned the attack for many months, including by creating an “ISIS inspired” video, undertaking firearm training and making explosives.World news | The Guardian: “In December, the police “fact sheet” – which was released via the courts and outlined the then allegations against Naveed Akram – alleged there was evidence that the pair “meticulously planned this terrorist attack for many months”. This allegedly included the creation of an “ISIS inspired” video, firearm training and the making of explosives.”
SupportedPolice alleged the pair made a reconnaissance visit to Bondi two days before the attack and visited the footbridge from which they are accused of firing at the festival-goers.World news | The Guardian: “The pair, police said in the document, allegedly undertook a “reconnaissance” visit to Bondi two days before the attack, visiting the footbridge from which they are accused of deliberately firing at those gathered at the Jewish festival.”