Surfers sniper victim dies just days after the fifth anniversary of the day he was shot

HYLTON Miller and his family gave up their lives in South Africa to move to the Gold Coast, hoping to escape the violence in the troubled nation.

Surfers Paradise Shooting Victim Mr Hylton Miller pictured at his Wongawallen home ,angry at Cr Douglas for calling him a Vigilante for wanting to set up a private security force on the Gold Coast.

HYLTON Miller and his family gave up their lives in South Africa to move to the Gold Coast, hoping to escape the violence that haunted their every day in the troubled nation.

In one incident he was shot four times while his family was held captive during a home invasion.

Little did they know that in their new life they were going to encounter violence similar to what they were trying to escape — only with a much worse ending.

What they would encounter on the Gold Coast would do what South Africa couldn’t — tear their family apart and now, five years later, take the life of the man who had tried to lead them to safety.

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On December 4, 2010 the 47-year-old father of three was randomly shot while walking with his family along The Esplanade in Surfers Paradise.

The bullet that struck Mr Miller literally came out of the blue, fired in the air from more than a kilometre away in what was quickly dubbed the “Surfers Paradise Sniper” case.

What followed for Mr Miller was tragic. He survived emergency surgery, spending four months in a coma only to contract a severe infection that required more than 30 operations at a cost of more than $120,000.

Sniper victim Hylton Miller.

His life was changed for ever and this week, just days after the fifth anniversary of the date on which he was shot, a physically, emotionally and financially broken Hylton Miller ended his pain.

Lawyer Michael Gatenby, who appeared for Mr Miller in court less than a fortnight ago and also was a neighbour of his at one point, said the shooting had taken an enormous toll.

“He lost everything — he lost his business and he lost his relationships,” Mr Gatenby said.

“He was just a shadow of the man he was.

“He had a very successful air-conditioning business that was in such demand that he couldn’t keep up, then all of a sudden he lost absolutely everything.”

Mr Gatenby said Mr Miller had intended moving to Sydney to try, once again to start a new life, this time alone and living with the scars of the shooting.

“He was going to go and do some rehabilitation and get some counselling,” he said.

Shooting victim Hylton Miller.

Salesman Rick El Masri was charged with grievous bodily harm in relation to the shooting.

During the trial the jury was told Mr El Masri had been at a boozy dinner party hosted by fellow car salesman Hakan “Harry” Altinoglu and also attended by both men’s girlfriends.

Police alleged Mr El Masri had drunkenly fired two shots from a large calibre handgun towards his former workplace — the Hollywood Showgirls strip club — from the balcony of Mr Altinoglu’s unit in the Circle on Cavill high rise building.

The bullet missed the nightclub and continued on, striking Mr Miller who had taken his family 10-pin bowling and was strolling home along the beachfront with them.

CCT footage taken just prior to the shooting (Hylton Miller in the black shirt with jacket over the shoulder).

Both Mr El Masri and Mr Altinoglu testified, each blaming the other for pulling the trigger to let off steam about past grudges.

The two girlfriends denied seeing who fired the gun and the weapon was never found.

Mr El Masri was acquitted following the two-week trial in the Southport District Court and the shooter was never brought to justice.

After the verdict was announced, Mr Miller stormed from the courtroom and outside the court indicated he was too upset to talk.

His estranged wife of 20 years, Juanita, and their daughter were also stunned by the result.

“We’re just in shock,” she said at the time.

Already in poor health, Mr Miller struggled to work as a result of his injuries and began to lose his mental health as well, ending in his tragic, lonely death this week.

Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit www.lifeline.org.au/gethelp.