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

Naveed Akram, 24, has been charged with 78 offences after allegedly committing a terrorist act. The case has been adjourned until February

The criminal case against Naveed Akram for his alleged role in the Bondi terror attack faces more delays after an “unprecedented” investigation by the joint counter-terrorism team.

The matter will not return to court until 24 February after it was adjourned on Wednesday before Sydney’s Downing Centre local court. Prosecutors expect to be ready to certify the charges against Akram, who is yet to enter a plea, by that date.

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.

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”. Sajid Akram was shot and killed by police at the scene.

Akram was charged with 59 offences in December, with 19 more added in April as the investigation progressed.

The prosecutor, Danielle New, made the application for the adjournment, without opposition from Akram’s defence team, on Wednesday. She said prosecutors had now completed their brief of evidence, which had also been beset by delays due to the sheer volume of evidence involved in the case.

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.