Sydney nurses' case: inadmissible video evidence in antisemitism trial
Consensus Summary
Two Sydney nurses, Ahmad Nadir and Sarah Abu Lebdeh, face trial in late August 2026 for allegedly making antisemitic comments and threatening violence against Israeli patients during a 2025 ChatRoulette conversation with Israeli influencer Max Veifer. Judge Michael McHugh ruled the video evidence inadmissible due to privacy concerns and improper recording, despite the prosecution arguing the chat lacked heightened privacy expectations. Both nurses pleaded not guilty, with Abu Lebdeh also charged with threatening violence to a group. The case has already received extensive media coverage, including the video’s publication to Veifer’s 100,000+ followers. Defence lawyers argued the evidence was improperly obtained, while the judge noted the disturbing nature of the alleged comments and the broader public discussion around antisemitism.
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Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Two Sydney nurses, Ahmad Nadir (28) and Sarah Abu Lebdeh (27), pleaded not guilty to menacing and offensive behavior charges for allegedly refusing to treat Israeli patients and threatening violence against them.
- The video evidence of the nurses' alleged antisemitic comments to Israeli influencer Max Ilinsky (real name Max Veifer) was ruled inadmissible by Judge Michael McHugh in Sydney’s Downing Centre district court on June 23, 2026.
- The nurses were matched with Max Veifer on the platform ChatRoulette (known as Chatruletka in Israel) in February 2025 while working at Bankstown Hospital in south-west Sydney.
- Judge Michael McHugh ruled that the video evidence must be excluded due to privacy concerns and the improper recording of the conversation without consent.
- The trial for the nurses is scheduled for late August 2026.
- Sarah Abu Lebdeh is also charged with threatening violence to a group, in addition to the menacing and offensive behavior charges.
- Max Veifer recorded the conversation on ChatRoulette and later published it to his over 100,000 social media followers.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Lawyers for the nurses argued that Veifer was running a 'private vigilante activity' and did not care about legal constraints.
- The judge cited the broad publication of the video online and in media as a factor in excluding the evidence.
- The prosecution argued that the online chat did not have the same privacy expectations as a conversation with a close personal friend.
- Ms. Abu Lebdeh's lawyer, Rayan Kadadi, stated outside court that he did not think there was any evidence to charge his client, who lost her job and faced severe hardship.
- Ms. Abu Lebdeh expressed gratitude for the court's decision.
- Judge McHugh noted that the cases had already received significant media exposure, with the video receiving wider publicity by legacy media, particularly in Australia.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- The Guardian states the nurses were recorded at Bankstown Hospital, while the ABC does not explicitly mention the location of the recording beyond the nurses being at the hospital while working there.
Source Articles
Video of two Sydney nurses allegedly making antisemitic comments to Israeli influencer struck from court case
Huge blow to prosecution as judge rules footage is inadmissible in upcoming trial Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast A video of two Sydney nurses allegedly making antisemitic comments to an Israeli influencer has been ruled inadmissible as evidence as the pair prepare to go to trial. Ahmad Nadir, 28, and Sarah Abu Lebdeh, 27, have pleaded not guilty to being menacing and offensive when they allegedly said they would
Video of nurse allegedly threatening Israelis excluded from court case
Lawyers argued the viral video clip from an online chat with an Israeli influencer breached NSW laws prohibiting recording private conversations without consent.