Daniel Bodagh and Walid Chaaban front court over shooting incident
The case of two men charged in relation to a shooting during an altercation outside a Melbourne strip club has taken a dramatic twist.
Melbourne City
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All except one charge have been withdrawn against a man allegedly involved in a shooting outside a Melbourne strip club late last year.
Daniel Bodagh, 24, originally faced charges of intentionally causing injury, recklessly causing injury, reckless conduct endangering life, the use of a firearm in a dangerous manner, carrying a loaded firearm in a town/populous place, possessing a loaded firearm in a public place and affray.
The charges were laid after a 19-year-old man, from Niddrie, was shot about 4am on December 10, 2023 following an altercation outside The Men’s Gallery strip club on Lonsdale St.
He was rushed to hospital with serious leg injuries.
Bodagh and another person, Walid Chaaban, also 24, were charged in relation to the shooting and both appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday for a committal hearing.
The prosecution informed the court that all charges against Bodagh except affray would be withdrawn.
He then pleaded guilty to affray and will reappear on July 2 for him and the prosecution to make sentencing submissions.
According to court documents, Bodagh and a man had a verbal altercation at The Men’s Gallery on the night of December 10, 2023 after which they agreed to leave the venue and fight.
During a physical altercation between the two, the 19-year-old who was shot at punched Mr Chaaban in the face in order to stop the fight between Bodagh and the man.
It’s alleged Mr Chaaban then fired a shot from a .45 calibre semi-automatic handgun to the 19-year-old’s left leg which resulted in serious injuries. He was transported to The Royal Melbourne Hospital where he had to have a surgery.
Mr Chaaban was not involved in any of the altercation and the firearm he allegedly used was never recovered. Mr Chaaban and Bodagh were arrested after checking into the Dorsett Hotel on Little Lonsdale St later on the morning of the shooting.
Bodagh told the court there was no evidence that he was aware of the firearm during the physical altercation but Magistrate Cicily Hollingworth said after reviewing CCTV footage, she was satisfied that he was aware of it.
Mr Chaaban’s charges are not affected and he’ll be back in court for a committal hearing on July 9.
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