Brothers 4 Life founder Bassam Hamzy in rare court appearance

The former lawyer of Brothers 4 Life founder Bassam Hamzy will give evidence from a prison hospital when the gangster’s drug supply trial begins next week.

Notorious crime boss Bassam Hamzy, accused of running a drug ring from jail with the help of his lawyer, has made a rare court appearance ahead of his trial next week.

The Brothers 4 Life founder sat without handcuffs in the dock at Downing Centre District Court on Friday, dressed in a green button-down shirt and matching tie.

Hamzy, 43, smiled and laughed at various points throughout proceedings, as he sat with a spiral notebook in his lap.

The change of scenery would have been reason enough to smile for the high-profile gangster, who has spent the past 23 years behind bars.

Hamzy is serving a 40-year sentence for the shooting of teenager Kris Toumazis outside a Sydney nightclub in 1998.

Police allege Bassam Hamzy ran a drug ring from jail while serving a murder sentence.

Police allege he operated a large-scale drug from high-security Goulburn Supermax with the help of lawyer Martin Churchill during his sentence.

Hamzy has pleaded not guilty to supply a commercial quantity of a prohibited drug; knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime; and hinder apprehension person who committed serious offence.

Hamzy launched Brothers 4 Life from his cell at Lithgow in 2008. Picture: Supplied

The court previously heard Hamzy used a smuggled mobile phone to make up to 450 calls a day, as the head of the Brothers 4 Life gang that he started behind bars.

Churchill, who was himself charged in relation to the drug ring and has pleaded not guilty, is scheduled to give evidence during the jury trial.

Hamzy’s trial will begin on Thursday. Picture: NSW Police

The ex-lawyer is expected to provide his testimony via video link from Long Bay’s prison hospital, where he’s battling an illness.

Hamzy was moved to the Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre in recent months to be closer to the court, where his eight-week trial will take place from Thursday.

He was escorted into the courtroom by armed guards for the brief pre-trial matter, having been classified as “an extreme high-risk prisoner”.

Hamzy sported a short beard and shaved head in a stark difference to his earlier mugshots.

He will be eligible for parole for the murder charge in 2035.

Churchill has pleaded not guilty to supply a commercial quantity of a prohibited drug; knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime; hinder apprehension person who committed serious offence; and stalk/intimidate.