A Melbourne court has denied bail to a 23-year-old man charged in connection with an alleged religiously-motivated road rage assault against a prominent Muslim religious leader and his wife. Brendan Nicholls faced Dandenong Magistrates Court on Tuesday following his arrest two days prior, with the prosecution detailing a disturbing sequence of events that has sparked widespread condemnation from community and political leaders.
The alleged incident occurred on January 10 when Imam Ismet Purdic, leader of the Bosnia-Herzegovina Islamic Society Noble Park Mosque, was driving with his wife on the South Gippsland Highway. According to Detective Senior Constable Courtney Milner’s testimony, the religious leader was traveling approximately 20-25km/h below the speed limit when a black Volkswagen Golf began tailgating and honking aggressively.
The court heard that the Golf subsequently overtook Purdic’s vehicle before intentionally slowing down and swerving to block its path. Three occupants then exited their car at a service station where Purdic had pulled in, allegedly launching a physical attack that included punching and kicking the Imam’s Toyota Kluger, causing significant damage. Prosecutors stated that Purdic was punched in the head after exiting his vehicle, while his wife was subjected to religious slurs including being called “Muslim b—h” by a female assailant who police expect to charge on summons.
Magistrate Hugh Radford rejected Nicholls’ bail application despite defense arguments that the Bunnings employee could live with his mother under strict conditions. The magistrate expressed particular concern about the random nature of the attack against complete strangers and found no compelling reason for bail that would mitigate the perceived risk. Nicholls reacted vociferously to the decision, yelling obscenities as he was removed from the courtroom while his mother collapsed sobbing.
The case has drawn significant attention from community organizations and political leaders. The Australian National Imams Council condemned the attack as a “disturbing reminder of the escalating danger facing visibly Muslim Australians,” noting increased Islamophobic incidents since recent terror attacks in Bondi. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan explicitly denounced the alleged assault, affirming her commitment to protecting Muslim women’s right to move freely without fear of hate-based violence.
Nicholls has been remanded in custody until February 4, with his lawyer noting this marks his first time in detention and requesting medical attention for drug withdrawal symptoms. A second accused, a 22-year-old from Cranbourne East, has been charged with criminal damage and common assault and granted bail to appear in court in May.