The bail application hearing for Adam Brookman, a Melbourne nurse who allegedly undertook “guard and reconnaissance duties for Islamic State” has been deferred before a Victorian magistrates’ court.
The police charge sheet states that by undertaking those duties, Brookman allegedly helped Islamic State “directly or indirectly prepare or foster the doing of a terrorist act” with full knowledge it was a terrorist organisation.
The 39-year-old turned himself in to authorities in Turkey in July, and was sent back to Australia, where he was charged with two terror-related offences by Australian federal police.
Brookman, a father of five from Melbourne’s north and an Islamic convert, has previously said he travelled to Syria for humanitarian purposes by using his medical training to help those injured in the conflict.
He claims he was forced to join Islamic State after being injured and taken to a hospital in a territory controlled by the organisation.
He was not present in the courtroom on Friday.
Magistrate Peter Mealy appeared frustrated that the application for bail had for the second time been withdrawn by Brookman’s legal team. Brookman was extradited from New South Wales to Victoria in July.
“Is this becoming a habit?” Mealy asked Jessie Smith from Stary lawyers, who is representing Brookman.
“I hope not, your honour,” she replied.
“There are a number of matters, where once those matters have aligned, we’ll relist the application.”
Mealy replied: “In other words, the stars have to be in the right position.”
Brookman is the first Australian to return home after allegedly joining Islamic State in Syria.
