Extra witnesses to be called in fight night shooting case
Investigators for the deadly shooting outside a Melbourne boxing event have been granted special powers, allowing them to call upon extra witnesses who have “crucial” evidence.
Police & Courts
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Gangland detectives will compel a further five witnesses to face questioning about a deadly fight night shooting after “crucial” new evidence was aired in court this week.
On Thursday, investigators were granted special powers to order more witnesses to testify in court about what they saw and did in the wake of the shooting rampage at the crowded boxing event which killed a young father and wounded two men.
It follows four days of compulsory examinations in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court where more than a dozen men and women, including Tony Mokbel’s defacto stepdaughter and several professional boxing identities, were forced to take the stand after refusing to make statements to police.
The five new witnesses, who cannot be named for legal reasons and have also refused to co-operate, will be slapped legal notice in the coming week ordering them to front court next month or face criminal charges.
Detective Senior Constable Stuart McFarlane told the court the evidence the witnesses have is “crucial” to the case against the four men charged over the fatal triple shooting.
Abdullah El Nasher, his older brother Ali, Mikhaeal Myko and Osamma Allouche, all aged in their 20s, are accused of opening fire outside the Kensington venue, killing Craigieburn father Ben Togiai, 30, and wounded two other men.
It comes as prosecutors warn a committal hearing listed for five days in March could likely drag on for weeks.
Almost 30 witnesses are set to be called during proceedings, many of whom attended the event at Melbourne Pavilion organised by underworld figure Mick Gatto.
Police believe the violence was sparked after an altercation between two groups of men during the event, with both parties ejected from the venue.
Prosecutor Neill Hutton said the volume of evidence and witness testimony meant the hearing could last “three days … or three weeks”.
“It’s almost certain … come hell or high water we cannot finish this committal in five days,” Mr Hutton told the court yesterday.
During four days of special hearings this week, almost a dozen people were examined under oath in front of Magistrate Duncan Reynolds about what they knew about the shooting and its aftermath.
Brittany McGuire, daughter of Mokbel’s former long term partner Danielle, and her best friend Shanae Pericic were among those who gave evidence but claimed they couldn’t remember anything because they were high on prescriptions pills and booze.
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Meanwhile, kickboxing crook Waleed Haddara was threatened with contempt after he refused to give a straight answer while being questioned, repeating he “wasn’t a snitch” and the shooting was none of his “business”.
The family of Mr Togiai was in court each day to watch proceedings.
The matter will return to court in February.