Queanbeyan servo killer successfully withdraws guilty plea over Talal Alameddine jail stabbing

Two of Goulburn’s most prominent prisoners are expected to come face to face in a Sydney courtroom — one as an accused stabber, the other as his alleged victim.

Talal Alameddine is in Goulburn Supermax.

Goulburn Supermax inmate Talal Alameddine is set to be called as a Crown witness in a NSW District Court trial after the man accused of stabbing him during an audacious prison brawl successfully withdrew his plea.

Police allege Alameddine, who has been behind bars since 2016, was stabbed three times in the head and neck inside a prison exercise yard in January 2022.

The court heard his alleged attacker, who can only be referred to as DM by court order, is currently serving decades behind bars over the brutal ISIS-inspired murder of Queanbeyan service station worker Zeeshan Akbar in 2017 and a terrifying staff hostage situation inside Kempsey jail in 2020.

According to police facts that were previously agreed but are now in dispute, DM allegedly developed a grudge against Alameddine, after he discovered Talal had been “talking shit” about DM’s so-called jail gang, named Family For Life.

Zeeshan Akbar was stabbed to death by DM in 2017 during a botched service station robbery in Queanbeyan. Picture: Supplied

According to police, DM and Alameddine had been authorised to spend time together just two weeks before the attack and had already had one morning in the same exercise yard without incident.

But it is alleged on the morning of January 23, DM concealed a makeshift shiv fashioned out of a yellow highlighter casing inside his clothing before entering the yard for his pre-approved exercise time.

CCTV footage showed the two men speaking congenially for more than an hour before DM allegedly snapped and stabbed Alameddine once in the neck and twice in the face in an area of the yard not covered by the video cameras.

Talal Alameddine. Picture: Facebook

Alameddine allegedly pulled out his own jailhouse shiv and attempted to defend himself but left only superficial marks on DM’s face.

Prison guards were alerted to the melee by another inmate in a neighbouring unit.

DM surrendered when tactical officers arrived on scene and Alameddine was removed from the yard without further incident.

The latter was taken to Goulburn Base Hospital where he received seven stitches to the three wounds, the deepest of which left a 1.5cm-deep hole just below his jawline.

DM was charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Police will allege they captured DM “confessing” to the stabbing during recorded jails calls with family members days after the attack.

“I took him, I took the Alameddine out,” DM allegedly told his father.

“He’s a f**king dog and I took him out the c**t. He wants to talk shit about my family and that … I’m in the gang now so I can’t f**king let that shit slide, I’ve got to take him out so I took him out.”

The court heard DM initially pleaded not guilty to the charge and had been due to stand trial in July last year but changed his plea to guilty at the 11th hour.

However, DM fronted the NSW District Court last week with new lawyers on his case, seeking to formally withdraw his guilty plea.

It is understood the basis for DM’s application was that his complex personality and mental health conditions meant he was not fully aware of all the elements of the charge when he entered the guilty plea - namely the legal basis for intent.

Prosecutors opposed the application, arguing DM had competent lawyers advising him at the time.

They noted he had previously accepted legal advice in coming to the decision to enter guilty pleas to the murder and the hostage charge, both of which carried the element of intent.

Judge Kara Shead SC granted the application to withdraw the plea, meaning the matter will now proceed to trial at a later date.

It is understood Alameddine will be among those called to the witness stand to give evidence in the case.

Judge Shead did not reveal in court why she granted the application, saying she would publish a detailed judgment at a later date.