Bizarre claim after man shot sleeping wife

The 37-year-old woman suffered lifelong injuries after being shot while she slept and was told she would likely never walk again.

A Sydney man who shot his wife and severed her spine told hospital staff he “just found her like this”.

Kamal El Jamal, 35, pleaded guilty in Downing Centre District Court on Wednesday to recklessly causing actual bodily harm and using a pistol not authorised to do so.

Wearing a white collared shirt, El Jamal bowed his head in court as details of the “serious injuries” he inflicted upon his then partner were read out.

El Jamal fired several shots from an illegal firearm into the ceiling of his Condell Park garage, in Sydney’s southwest, as his wife, Georgina Vlahos, slept in her bed directly above on January, 12, 2023.

Court documents revealed about 30 minutes after the bullet travelled through the garage ceiling, through the floorboards of the main bedroom, through the mattress of the bed and hit Ms Vlahos, that El Jamal then called out for the help of a neighbour.

The shots severed her spine and caused significant damage to her liver and spleen.

Ms Vlahos suffered a devastating spinal cord injury and was told she would never walk again.

However, two years on, the court was told El Jamal’s partner had expressed wishes for him to reside with her, as she was now in need of “significant” day-to-day assistance due to her ongoing injuries.

Georgina Vlahos will need specialised medical care for the rest of her life. Picture: Facebook

At the time of the shooting, El Jamal was “significantly affected by drugs” and “did not intend to harm his partner or anyone else”, Legal Aid barrister Ertunc Ozen told the court.

Mr Ozen asked the court to allow El Jamal’s care at the Mudgee Private Hospital Rehabilitation Centre to continue, given he has completed five months out of a seven-month program.

“He has expressed a strong desire to finally address his drug problem,” Mr Ozen said.

“The proof is in the pudding … his rehabilitation is working.

“There are two months left … this man needs, as he said in his own words, two months more, and I believe it is in both his interests and the community’s interest that he completes that rehabilitation program.”

However, Crown prosecutor Emma Blizzard told the court the offence was an “extremely grave example” of grievous bodily harm and argued El Jamal had already received plenty of “opportunity” for rehabilitation.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos, February 6 2025. Kamal Eljamal (L) arrives at Downing Centre court house where he was taken into custody over the death of his wife. Picture: NewsWire / Max Mason-Hubers

The court was told how police had observed 10 bullet holes in El Jamal’s garage ceiling after the offence.

It is not known if all of this damage occurred on the day of the shooting or if it was from other incidents.

However, Ms Blizard argued either way, the damage was an example of El Jamal acting “recklessly”.

‘HELP HER’

Court documents say Ms Vlahos told paramedics she “didn’t remember anything”, upon her arrival at Bankstown Hospital, and that she “could not feel her legs”.

CCTV footage from the day of the incident showed El Jamal drive up to the ambulance bay in a Mercedes-Benz, before stopping and getting out of the vehicle.

He then approached paramedics and yelled “help her, you’ve got to come and help her”, before telling them he “just found her like this”.

While paramedics were tending to Ms Vlahos, El Jamal fled the scene on foot.

El Jamal then went to a nearby friends home to borrow a van which he said he needed to use to “move some boxes”.

He then used the van to load it up with the bed sheets and pillows from the crime scene, and returned the van to his friend, with the items still inside.

The items were later recovered by police, and El Jamal was arrested at their home.

Meanwhile, Judge Sarah Huggett said while Mr El Jamal appeared to have made progress in rehabilitation, it was unclear if more time at the rehabilitation facility was needed.

“While I accept that he has made progress, I am not satisfied that any more real progress will be made with more time,” she said.

El Jamal’s bail was refused in Downing Centre District Court on Thursday.

He will be remanded in custody until his sentencing later this year.

Originally published as Bizarre claim after man shot sleeping wife