‘Devastated’: Carl Williams’ ex-wife on Aussie shooting in Bali

Underworld circles believe the hit — where one Australian has died and one remains hospitalised — may have been ordered over an unresolved dispute between criminals in Melbourne.

Roberta Williams, the former wife of murdered gangland kingpin Carl, says the hit on her daughter’s former defacto, Sanar Ghanim, in Bali, was “terrifying”.

Armed gunmen who stormed a Badung villa near Kuta shot Ghanim in the leg while his mate, Zivan Radmanovic, 32, was unable to escape at least one of the helmet-wearing gunmen who murdered him in a bathroom on Saturday morning.

Bali Paramilitary Police stop by the crime scene during their patrol around the area Monday June 16, 2025. Picture: Lukman S. Bintoro

Williams, whose daughter Danielle has a child with Ghanim, 34, said the ambush had come as a complete shock to the family.

And she said hearing of the deadly attack had taken her back to the slaying of her ex-husband, Carl Williams, who was bashed to death inside Barwon prison in 2010.

Bali Police tighten the security at BIMC where Australian Sanar Ghanim is hospitalised in Kuta. Picture: Lukman S. Bintoro

Sanar Ghanim was the victim of a shooting inside a villa in Bali on Saturday morning. Picture: Supplied

“I’m devastated. I love him (Sanar) to pieces and he’s a beautiful dad,” Roberta said.

“It’s terrifying.

“This has all taken me back to when Carl was killed.

“I’m reliving Carl’s murder.

“I think Sanar went over there to get a bit of peace and quiet.

“I just thank god that he is alive.”

Bali Police have spoken to a fourth person believed to have been in the villa, understood to be Ghanim’s girlfriend.

It’s believed the woman heard an “explosion” from inside the villa causing her to run from the scene.

Danielle Stephens (left), the step-daughter of former Melbourne underworld figure Carl Williams, and her former defacto partner Sanar Ghanim, pictured in 2015. Picture: AAP

Carl Williams and ex-wife Roberta in 2004. Picture: News Corp

A source has told this masthead the woman walked to the main road to ask for help and was escorted back to the villa after it was deemed safe by police.

Radmanovic’s wife, Jazmyn Gourdeas, was trapped and hid under covers as the gunman shot her husband dead.

It is unclear if Ghanim, who has been released from hospital, has been spoken to by police.

Bali police spokesman Sen Commissioner Ariasandy said one of the gunmen had been identified and it was hoped an arrest would be made shortly.

Zivan Radmanovic with his wife Gourdeas Jazmyn. Picture: Facebook

“The team are still chasing the alleged perpetrator to (an) area outside Bali, but still in Indonesia,” Mr Ariasandy said.

“We have identified the alleged perpetrator. We hope he can be arrested as soon as possible.”

Witnesses reported the two attackers had Australian accents.

One of them was heard shouting: “I can’t start my bike” as he attempted to flee the scene on a scooter.

Underworld circles believe the hit may have been ordered over an unresolved dispute between criminals in Melbourne.

Ghanim has been linked to jailed kingpin George Marrogi who is the enemy of Kaz Hamad.

The Australian Federal Police, in a statement, said there had been no formal request for assistance by their Indonesian counterparts and directed any inquiries about the investigation to the Indonesian National Police.

Originally published as ‘Devastated’: Carl Williams’ ex-wife on Aussie shooting in Bali