Detectives approved for deadly fight night compulsory court hearings
Tony Mokbel’s de facto daughter is among the dozen witnesses of a brutal boxing tournament shooting who will be forced to give evidence in a special compulsory hearing.
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More than a dozen witnesses will be forced to give evidence about what they saw and did in the wake of a fatal fight night shooting rampage at a Kensington boxing tournament.
Gang-busting detectives were today granted permission to order 13 men and women to appear before a compulsory hearing next year — 10 months after four men allegedly opened fire on the packed venue.
Brittany McGuire, de facto daughter of drug king pin Tony Mokbel, will be among those compelled to answer questions on the stand as it emerged in court she is dating one of the accused men.
The Herald Sun understands Ms McGuire is in a relationship with Abdullah El Nasher, 27, with the couple seen posing in social media photos together.
Mr El Nasher and Coburg man Osamma Allouche, 24, have been charged with the murder young father Ben Togiai who was shot dead outside the Melbourne Pavilion on March 1.
The two men, as well as Mr El Nasher’s older brother, Ali, 28, and Michael Myko, 25, have all been charged with the attempted murder of Omar Bchinatti and Joseph Abouchaya who were wounded during the shooting.
Both victims will be compelled to give evidence during the special January hearings.
In an application by Echo Taskforce detectives in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court today, the court heard Mr Abouchaya was seen on CCTV with a suspect object in his hand which investigators seek to question him about.
Magistrate Donna Bakos raised concerns during the application some of the witnesses will remain uncooperative with police out of fear of self-incrimination.
“What I don’t want is a procession of witnesses who refuse to answer questions and there being ongoing proceedings because of that,” Ms Bakos said.
Other witnesses who will be forced to give evidence include a third El Nasher brother, Khaled El Nasher, who was seen leaving the scene of the crime in a vehicle with one of the accused, the court heard.
Fadi Hahhara, a convicted drug and gun trafficker, and his brother Waleed, a leading kickboxer jailed over a 2010 shooting will be called after detectives identified they were present on the night of the shooting.
And boxing champion and convicted killer Khalid Baker and his head trainer James Roseler will be forced to appear.
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A further four patrons and a security officer round out the 13 witnesses approved to give evidence.
It is the second recent case of Magistrates’ Court hearings being used in an attempt to extract answers for homicide investigators.
Witnesses were this month quizzed in court over the double-fatal drive-by shooting at the Love Machine nightclub in April this year.