Naveed Akram, the 24-year-old accused of carrying out the Bondi Beach terror attack, made his first court appearance on Monday, appearing via video link from prison in Sydney.
He faces 59 charges, including 15 counts of murder and one count of committing a terrorist attack, in connection with the 14 December shooting that killed 15 people and injured more than 40 during a Hanukkah celebration at Archer Park.
Authorities have described the assault as Australia’s deadliest terror attack and the country’s worst mass shooting since 1996.
Akram appeared for approximately five minutes in the Downing Centre local court.
Dressed in a green prison-issued jumper, with his hair freshly shaven and a short beard, he responded briefly when addressed by Deputy Chief Magistrate Sharon Freund.
“Did you just hear what I just said?” the magistrate asked, to which Akram replied: “Yeah.”
Later, when informed that his solicitor would contact him, he answered: “Yep.”
The court continued suppression orders protecting the identities of victims and survivors who have not chosen to publicly identify themselves.
Outside the courtroom, his Legal Aid solicitor, Ben Archbold, said it was too early to indicate what plea his client would enter and confirmed that the legal process was still in its early stages.
Akram is being held at Goulburn supermax prison and is next due to appear in court on 9 April.
Prosecutors allege that Akram and his father, Sajid Akram, 50, meticulously planned the attack over several months.
The pair allegedly parked near Campbell Parade before throwing three pipe bombs filled with steel ball bearings and a tennis ball bomb into the beachside Hanukkah gathering, after which they opened fire.
One pipe bomb detonated, and police allege 55 people were shot.
Sajid Akram was shot dead by police at the scene, while Naveed Akram was critically injured and later transferred from hospital to prison.
Court documents allege the men conducted reconnaissance visits, firearms training in New South Wales, and recorded videos referencing the Islamic State flag.
Among those killed were two rabbis, a Holocaust survivor, a retired police officer, and 10-year-old Matilda.