Roberta Williams’s son-in-law to miss child’s birth, locked up in jail
UNDERWORLD matriarch Roberta Williams's son-in-law will miss the the birth of his first child after being jailed today over the brazen street shooting of a standover man.
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UNDERWORLD matriarch Roberta Williams's son-in-law will miss the the birth of his first child after being jailed today over the brazen street shooting of a standover man.
Sanar Ghanim, the husband of Williams's heavily pregnant daughter Danielle Stephens, was jailed at the Supreme Court for at least 17 months for reckless conduct endangering life.
His co-accused Tugay "TJ" Afacan was sentenced to at least three years in prison for intentionally causing serious injury.
Both pleaded guilty to their roles in the shooting of Serkan Kala, a violent standover man who had threatened to snap the neck of Afacan's sister.
"It's often said that violence begets violence," said Justice Michael Croucher.
"It seems to be getting worse."
Kala was hit with 22 shotgun pellets last November in a Broadmeadows street after he met the group.
Several pellets will remain in Kala's body for life, although Justice Croucher said he doubted his claims that he could no longer go about his normal business.
"In several reports, Mr Kala was the antagoniser in this event.... there was a grave and highly provocative threat made by a man with a history of violence," Justice Croucher said.
The dispute developed over text messages Kala sent to Afacan's sister. Ghanim trained as a forced child soldier aged just 10 under Saddam Hussein before fleeing with his family to Syria and then Australia to avoid being sent to a battle front.
Ms Stephens, who was in court today, is due just before Christmas.