By Sally Rawsthorne and Daniel Lo Surdo
One of the nurses charged over a viral video in which he and a colleague threatened to kill and fail to treat Israeli patients will plead not guilty to the charges and will argue that the video was illegally recorded.
Sarah Abu Lebdeh, 26, and Ahmad Rashad Nadir, 27, were last month captured in a video uploaded by Israeli social media influencer Max Veifer allegedly saying they would refuse to treat Israeli patients and threatening to kill them.
Ahmed Rashid Nadir departs the Downing Centre Local Court in Sydney.Credit: Sam Mooy
Abu Lebdeh was charged with one count each of threatening violence to a group, using a carriage service to threaten to kill, and using a carriage service to menace, harass and offend. Nadir has been charged with using a carriage service to menace. He has also been charged with one count of drug possession relating to a vial of morphine allegedly found inside his work locker.
Both appeared briefly before the Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday morning. Neither addressed the magistrate and both matters were adjourned until May.
Nadir’s lawyer, Zemarai Khatiz, told reporters outside court that his client would plead not guilty.
“The video which was captured and recorded was done without consent of my client, without his knowledge and we will argue for that to be excluded,” he said.
Sarah Abu Lebdeh, wearing sunglasses, faced court for the first time on Wednesday morning.Credit: Sam Mooy
Surrounded by supporters who whisked her into a waiting car, Abu Lebdeh and her lawyer did not comment as she left court.
In the video, Abu Lebdeh allegedly says of Israeli patients at the hospital: “I won’t treat them, I will kill them.”
In the video, she allegedly says to Veifer: “One day, your time will come, and you will die the most horrible death.”
Nadir adds: “You have no idea how many [Israelis] came to this hospital, and I sent them to Jehannam.”
Jehannam is the Islamic equivalent of the underworld.
At the time, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese slammed the video, labelling it “sickening and shameful”.
The duo were stood down without pay from their roles at Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital following the incident.
Their future employment will be determined by an internal investigation set to be finalised imminently, however Health Minister Ryan Park promised last month the nurses would never work for NSW Health again.
Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.