Accused killers of Lalor tradie Adrian Pacione plead not guilty

Three alleged killers accused of murdering Lalor tradie Adrian Pacione will fight the charges in front of a jury.

Adrian Pacione was killed in July 2020. Picture: Supplied

Three alleged killers accused of murdering Lalor tradie Adrian Pacione during an aggravated burglary will fight the charges in front of a jury.

Tahmid Rahman spent his 19th birthday sitting alongside co-accused Adam Tiba, 21, and Abdullah Hammoud, 22, where they entered not guilty pleas to murder over the July 18 shooting.

Pacione, 20, had been supporting a friend through the death of a family member when a group of men allegedly tried to force their way into the Ella Ct home.

A blast of gunfire was allegedly shot into the property and the young apprentice was hit in the head.

He died two days later.

Rahman, Tiba and Hammoud have been charged with murder and murder in the course of an aggravated burglary.

But both Tiba and Hammoud face additional charges for allegedly trying to commit an armed robbery in Roxburgh Park a month before the shooting.

They stand accused of possessing a handgun and of attempted armed robbery on June 23.

Hammoud was also accused of possessing a cartridge of ammunition on October 21 — the day charges were laid — of refusing to follow an order relating to a data storage device, and committing an indictable offence while on bail.

A fourth man, Ammair Fahal, faces charges from the night of Mr Pacione’s death for aggravated burglary, committing an indictable offence while on bail and failing to comply with an order on October 22.

Fahal, who was charged on summons and remains on bail, also pleaded not guilty.

Magistrate Greg McNamara committed the four men to the Supreme Court for a directions hearing on April 14.

@ashargoon