Sydney nurses' case: viral video evidence excluded from court over privacy concerns
Consensus Summary
Two Sydney nurses, Ahmad Nadir and Sarah Abu Lebdeh, are facing charges for allegedly making menacing and offensive comments, including threats of violence against Israeli patients, during a 2025 video chat with Israeli influencer Max Veifer. The video, recorded on Chatruletka while the nurses worked at Bankstown Hospital, was widely shared online and became a focal point of the case. However, Judge Michael McHugh ruled on June 23, 2026, that the video evidence must be excluded from their upcoming trial due to concerns over its improper or illegal recording under NSW law. The defense argued the recording violated privacy laws, while the prosecution contended the chat lacked heightened privacy expectations. The trial, set for late August, hinges on whether the charges can be proven without the video evidence. The ruling has raised questions about the prosecution’s ability to proceed, with defense lawyers suggesting the case may collapse. The incident has also sparked broader discussions about privacy, free speech, and the legal implications of viral online content.
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Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Two Sydney nurses, Ahmad Nadir (28) and Sarah Abu Lebdeh (27), are charged with menacing and offensive behavior after allegedly threatening Israeli patients and violence in a 2025 Chatruletka video.
- The video was recorded by Israeli influencer Max Veifer (also known as Max Ilinsky) during a February 2025 chat on Chatruletka while the nurses worked at Bankstown Hospital in Sydney’s southwest.
- Judge Michael McHugh ruled on June 23, 2026, that the video evidence must be excluded from the trial due to improper or illegal recording under NSW law.
- The trial is scheduled for late August 2026, with both defendants pleading not guilty.
- Veifer published the video to his 100,000+ social media followers, leading to significant media exposure of the case.
- Abu Lebdeh faces an additional charge of threatening to use force or violence against Israeli people, causing fear.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Nadir’s barrister, Greg James KC, previously described Veifer as running a 'private vigilante activity' and argued he disregarded legal regimes to obtain recordings.
- Crown prosecutor Justin Hannebery KC argued that the online chat did not have the same heightened privacy expectations as a conversation with a close personal friend.
- Nadir’s lawyer, Zemarai Khatiz, called the ruling a 'major victory' and suggested the prosecution case may collapse or be dropped entirely.
- The judge’s written judgment noted that the onus of proving improper obtainment of evidence rested on the defense team.
- Ms. Abu Lebdeh’s lawyer, Rayan Kadadi, stated outside court that he believed there was no evidence to charge his client, who lost her job and faced severe hardship.
- Ms. Abu Lebdeh expressed gratitude for the court’s decision.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- The Guardian and SMH describe the nurses as 'allegedly making antisemitic comments,' while the ABC frames the charges as 'allegedly threatening Israelis' without explicitly using the term 'antisemitic.'
- The Guardian and SMH mention the nurses were recorded at Bankstown Hospital, but the ABC specifies they were working there at the time of the chat.
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
Viral video of nurses threatening Israelis struck out by judge
The video of a chat between the two Sydney nurses and an Israeli content creator will not be allowed into evidence in their looming trials.
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.