Show went on after fatal shooting outside Melbourne boxing event
A boxing official has revealed why a headline fight still went ahead after a patron was shot dead metres from the venue’s entrance.
Police & Courts
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The headline fight at a Melbourne boxing event went ahead as planned despite a fatal shooting just metres from the venue’s entrance.
Ben Togiai was shot dead while Omar Bchinnati was struck in the leg after they were among two groups ejected from a Big Time Boxing event at the Melbourne Pavilion in Kensington.
Boxing official Michael Ashton, who was supervising the March 2019 event, told the Supreme Court on Thursday up to 1000 people were inside when a “volley” of gunshots rang out from the foyer just after 10pm.
“There was a lot of panic, people sort of running, hiding under tables, it was quite chaotic,” he said.
Mr Ashton said he spoke to police about 20 minutes later who agreed the headline fight would go ahead to stop patrons exiting and contaminating a crime scene outside.
“That would give them an hour to get more resources down there,” he said.
“I spoke to the promoter and they said they wanted the show to go ahead.”
Melbourne Pavilion owner and boxing promoter Brian Amatruda told the court he was not aware of any trouble in the lead-up to the shooting.
He said he was by the ring when he heard several gunshots coming from an unknown direction.
“I look around, everyone was ducking, so I thought I should do the same,” he said.
Mr Amatruda spoke to security who told him someone had been shot before he closed the front entrance to protect patrons.
“The main event hadn’t been concluded,” he said.
“We did the fight.”
Abdullah El Nasher, 32, and Osamma Allouche, 28, are standing trial for murder and attempted murder over the violence.
The pair have pleaded not guilty, claiming they acted in self-defence.
The jury were on Thursday shown CCTV and dashcam footage depicting the lead-up and moment of the fatal shooting outside the Racecourse Road venue.
Footage taken from a passing vehicle shows a man firing a gun outside the venue’s entrance before fleeing.
In her opening remarks, prosecutor Sarah Thomas said Mr El Nasher and Mr Allouche hatched a plan to kill or seriously injure another group of patrons after “tensions” rose throughout the evening.
Mr El Nasher, his two older brothers, and other friends were seated at table 28 while the other group, including Mr Togiai and Mr Bchinnati, were at table 64.
The groups argued with Mr El Nasher allegedly seen making a cutthroat gesture to the other men before both tables were escorted out by security around 10pm.
As they exited, Mr El Nasher, who had earlier left, allegedly ran across the road, firing seven rounds from a black pistol or a short handgun into the other group.
Forklift driver Mr Togiai, 33, was struck by a single shot in the chest and died at the scene while Mr Bchinnati was shot in the thigh as he ran away.
Mr Allouche is also alleged to have fired a single round.
Mr El Nasher’s lawyer Damian Sheales on Wednesday said his client admitted firing a gun but it was disputed that the rounds struck Mr Togiai or Mr Bchinnati.
John Desmond, acting for Mr Allouche, said there was no dispute his client fired a single round but it was aimed at the footpath and he acted in self-defence.
The trial before Justice Christopher Beale continues.
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