Wally Ahmad murder: Slain gangsters case sent to unsolved homicide unit
Three weeks after a rival was shot dead, the ‘Mr Big’ of Sydney Wally Ahmad was himself ambushed and killed in a hail of bullets in a brutal daylight execution. Four years later his murder remains unsolved.
Police & Courts
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The ‘Mr Big’ of Sydney, Wally Ahmad, had changed his routine and was lying low before being brutally executed in broad daylight, an inquest has been told.
Ahmad, 40, a gangster who was known for his hedonistic lifestyle and as a dispute mediator in the Harbour City’s underworld, was shot dead as he sat outside the Havana Cafe at Bankstown Central shopping centre in April 2016.
Advocate assisting Sergeant Brooke Notley told Lidcombe Coroners Court on Monday that police did not have enough evidence to lay charges over the murder almost four years later despite a “long and complex” probe.
In response, Deputy State Coroner Derek Lee, who ruled Ahmad died of multiple gunshot wounds, said he would make a recommendation to move the case to the NSW Police Unsolved Homicide Unit for further investigation.
The court was told Ahmad had changed his daily movements and was keeping a low profile after a violent shootout over money outside auto repair store A-Team Body Works in Condell Park.
Safwan Charbaji, 32, a rival, was shot dead in that incident. Three weeks later, Ahmad was ambushed and killed.
Outlining details of the attack, Ms Notley said Ahmad had just finished a gym session with associates and was seated outside the cafe when the gunman suddenly ran towards them.
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“As the male approached, Mr Ahmad stood and faced him – the unknown male discharged 11 rounds from the pistol he was carrying,” she said.
“Ahmad was struck by seven rounds to the chest, back and once in the finger.”
Ms Notley said the masked gunman then fled in a waiting Mercedes.
“It was shortly joined by a Volkswagen Scirocco hatch – both vehicles drove to Salamander Place, Mount Lewis," she said.
"A male was seen wearing a black face covering (and) running from the middle of the road and entering the Volkswagen Scirocco, which drove off quickly.
"The Mercedes was set on fire shortly after – the Volkswagen Scirocco was abandoned nearby.”
Shocked witnesses tried to give Ahmad medical assistance but he could not be saved.
Six months later, Hamad Asaad – a previous suspect in Ahmad’s murder – was gunned down in front of his mother outside his Georges Hall home.
A suspect in that murder, bikie associate Kemel “Blackie” Barakat, was later shot dead in a bed in his Mortlake home.
The inquest into Ahmad's death was closed and the case remains open.
