Nabil Maghnie murder: Abbas Al-Haydari accused of death threat
An associate of Nabil Maghnie allegedly held a gun to two men on Maghnie’s behalf just two days before the underworld figure was murdered in Lalor. And the incident was allegedly outside the same house where Maghnie was later killed.
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An associate of slain underworld figure Nabil Maghnie allegedly held a gun to two men on the crime kingpin’s behalf just two days before Maghnie was murdered.
The alleged threat occurred outside the same Lalor house that Maghnie was outside when he was murdered, the homicide squad has revealed.
Details into the investigation of his death on January 9 have been heard before Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court, with police having charged a man over an alleged threat to kill that preceded the fatal shooting.
Abbas Al-Haydari fronted the court on Thursday, August 13, to apply for bail after being arrested on July 1.
Leading Senior Constable Kevin Squires said police believed the 27-year-old, who also goes by the name ‘Ali Yousef’, threatened to kill two men at 344 Dalton Rd on January 7 under Maghnie’s instruction.
He said the men, aged 33 and 24, were relatives of the residents, and were not believed to be involved in the dispute between Maghnie and the residents.
The court heard Al-Haydari and an unknown co-offender allegedly arrived outside the house in a stolen Kia about 12.25am.
Armed with a semi-automatic Luger handgun, Al-Haydari allegedly walked up the driveway and pointed it towards the garage, where the men were.
One man allegedly looked over and saw a man believed to be Al-Haydari, who was allegedly wearing something over his face and had his hood up, about 5m away.
A third man in the house went out the front and saw a man run from the front yard to the Kia.
Thinking someone might have been trying to break into the car in the driveway, he allegedly got in the car and went searching for the Kia.
The court heard five minutes later the two men were in the driveway when Al-Haydari allegedly returned and said “Hey, you,” before pointing the gun at them.
One man allegedly said “No, no, don’t” before they ran to the backyard, where one looked over the fence and saw two men drive away, before they phoned 000.
Police also allegedly received a call at 12.46am about a man jumping a fence at a Partridge St property, and a car out front.
Leading Senior Constable Squires said investigators believed Al-Haydari had jumped the fence, injuring his feet, before he hid in the frontyard of a Manus Court property, and called and arranged for someone to pick him and his co-offender up.
The timeline is allegedly supported by CCTV and a scent the dog squad followed from Partridge St, to a front yard in Derma Crescent, where a Luger handgun loaded with four rounds of ammunition was found about 1.50am, and to Manus Court.
The court heard Al-Haydari was allegedly seen on crutches looking for the gun in bushes on Derma Crescent about noon, before he went to Geelong Hospital for help for his injured feet.
Police allegedly found Al-Haydari’s DNA on the gun, and found a fuel can in the abandoned Kia, which police believe suggests it was supposed to be destroyed after the incident.
The residents of the Dalton Rd property have since sold the house because of the two incidents, the court heard.
Police told the court Al-Haydari was prohibited to have a firearm.
Lawyer Sarah Condon said the case had triable issues, including identification and differing accounts of events from witnesses.
She said there would be a long delay in resolving the case, during which Al-Haydari would be particularly vulnerable in custody during the COVID-19 pandemic due to his asthma.
Ms Condon said the father had stable accommodation with his mum in Jacana, and that his supportive family was offering $20,000 surety to the court.
Magistrate Ian Alger said the case was not weak nor “water tight”, and would likely be subject to a 12-month delay, granting bail with strict conditions.
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