Hamza El-Leissy asks for freedom as he faces firearms charges over a Thomastown shooting

The Craigieburn mother of a man allegedly involved in the shooting and attempted firebombing of a Thomastown home has put her family home on the line for her son’s freedom.

Mr El-Leissy is alleged to be involved in the drive-by shooting and attempted firebombing of a Barry Rd home in Thomastown in early 2023. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

A Craigieburn man who was allegedly involved in a Thomastown shooting has begged for freedom after spending almost a year behind bars.

Hamza El-Leissy, 23, fronted the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on February 5, facing a string of charges after allegedly firing shots in a “targeted attack” on a home in Melbourne’s northern suburbs.

Appearing in his defence, Mr El-Leissy’s mother, Hayam Ezzat, offered her family home up as surety for her son’s freedom.

Ms Ezzat, who lives in the Craigieburn home with two of her other children, said she knew what she was putting on the line.

“I know that I’m putting myself and my other children at risk,” she told the court.

“I’m willing to do that to give Hamza a chance.”

Ms Ezzat further said she didn’t believe she could “control” her son or stop him from committing further crimes.

“I don’t believe anyone can control anybody,” she said.

“All I can do as a parent is guide him, support him and help him. I can’t control him, he’s an adult.”

Further, Ms Ezzat said she would have no hesitation in reporting Mr El-Leissy to police if he reoffended.

Mr El-Leissy’s mother offered up their family home in a bid to free her son. Picture: Supplied

The court heard Mr El-Leissy was accused of a spate of offending over January 23 and January 24 in 2023, including firearms charges relating to the alleged Thomastown attack, as well as hooning charges.

Investigating officers from the Armed Crime Squad allege they identified Mr El-Leissy through various criteria, including matching CCTV footage and mobile phone footage, where he was shown to be wearing a distinctive pair of yellow Nike sneakers.

Detective Senior Constable Matthew Sciortino told the court on Monday that Mr El-Leissy had allegedly been seen in the CCTV footage outside the Thomastown home at the time of the shooting before being seen just hours later in video footage from his friend’s phone, where he was driving at 229k/h on Sydney Rd in Campbellfield.

The same shoes were allegedly later seized from Mr El-Leissy’s home.

Mr El-Leissy will face the Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court on February 12 on the speeding charges, while Magistrate Stephen Ballek committed him to stand trial for the firearms charges at a later date.

Mr El-Leissy will appear in Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court on February 12 over hooning charges. Picture: Ellen Smith

In a part heard bail application, the court heard police considered Mr El-Leissy to be of unacceptable risk to be let back out into the community.

The court heard police had monitored his prison phone calls, where they allege he attempted to organise for his younger brother to be forced to give police a statutory declaration in support of his release.

“He’s a f-----g dog,” police have alleged he said to an associate.

“Rotten scum f--k, if this motherf---ing dog f---s me around he’ll get shot. Drag him there.”

Detective Senior Constable Sciortino said he believed Mr El-Leissy would likely offend if allowed outside prison and that the risk was amplified by his mother’s admittance to not being able to control him.

Mr Ballek adjourned the bail application to February 23.