29-year-old Indian origin bus driver Manmeet Alisher was burnt to death after Anthony O’Donohue allegedly set him on fire in Brisbane last month.
On Monday, his alleged killer, 48-year-old Anthony O’Donohue appeared in court. He has been charged with murder of Manmeet Alisher and is also facing 11 counts of attempted murder in relation to the passengers who fled the burning bus on that fateful day.
Even as O’Donohue, dressed in a purple gown, was brought to Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday, supporters and well wishers of Manmeet Alisher gathered outside the court and held a peaceful rally.Holding placards of ‘Justice for Manmeet’, the group stayed till O’Donohue had his case briefly mentioned in the Court on Monday.
Supporters of slain bus driver Manmeet Alisher pose for a photograph outside the Brisbane Magistrates Court in Brisbane, Monday, Nov. 21, 2016. Source: AAP
Manjit Boparai, a leader of the Punjabi community of which Mr Alisher was a member, said all Australians were coming together over the case.
Mr Boparai said people, specifically Indians, had been very worried by the murder of Mr Alisher, also known as Manmeet Sharma, who achieved his "big dreams" since coming to Australia eight years ago.
"It's just beyond belief that he is not here today," Mr Boparai said.Manmeet's family's lawyer Parveen Gupta told 7 News that the family will be arriving soon in Australia to fight Manmeet's case.
Source: 7 News
O'Donohue's case will return to court in January.
FOLLOW ALL THE UPDATES ON MANMEET ALISHER'S DEATH:
Young bus driver burnt to death in Brisbane identified as an Indian migrant, Manmeet Alisher