Alleged Brothers 4 Life associate Mohammad Zarshoy denies murder and shooting

An alleged Brothers 4 Life associate has faced court after being charged with murdering one man and shooting another in western Sydney.

An alleged associate of the Brothers 4 Life gang has denied murdering one man and shooting another man in western Sydney.

Mohammad Eimal Zarshoy, 30, appeared in NSW Supreme Court on Friday to enter pleas to the charges of murder and discharging a firearm with the intention of causing grievous bodily harm.

Mr Zarshoy is accused of murdering 44-year-old Robert Atkinson at Wentworthville in Sydney’s west on June 29, 2020.

Brothers 4 Life associate Mohammad Eimal Zarshoy has pleaded not guilty to murder. Picture: NSW Police

The victim was allegedly shot in the leg at his home on Jones St around 7pm and died at the scene.

Mr Zarshoy is also accused of firing a gun with the intent of seriously injuring another man at the same approximate time.

He handed himself into police a week later and was charged with murder.

Mr Zarshoy formally entered pleas of not guilty to the two charges after a failed attempt to adjourn the arraignment.

His lawyer Mohammed Masri told the court that he had been unable to meet with his client in person. He told the court the first available AVL appointment to discuss the matter with his client was later this month.

“It can’t be helped at this stage. It’s out of my hands,” Mr Masri said.

Justice Robert Hulme denied the request for further adjournments, noting the matter has been before the court for two years.

“I would have thought his plea would have been well and truly discussed by now,” he said.

The court was told police were still waiting to obtain some material pertaining to the trial. Justice Hulme ordered that all materials be shared between the defence and prosecution “as soon as possible”.

Mr Zarshoy will fight the charges in a four-week trial starting on March 20, 2023.

Originally published as Alleged Brothers 4 Life associate Mohammad Zarshoy denies murder and shooting