By Tom Cowie
A kickboxer nicknamed "The Punisher" who killed an elderly woman in a high-speed car crash is seeking a payout from Victoria Police over a courthouse brawl that left him pepper sprayed, handcuffed and shirtless.
Suleiman "Sam" Abdulrahim and his father Farouk are suing the State of Victoria over accusations of assault and battery against the force following the wild fight at the Melbourne Magistrates Court in 2015.
Suleiman Abdulrahim following a fight at the Melbourne Magistrates Court.Credit: Eddie Jim
Victoria's busiest court was evacuated on February 22 when the melee broke out on level three, with pepper spray used to subdue the brawlers.
Promoted in kickboxing as "The Punisher", Abdulrahim's tattooed torso was on display after his shirt was ripped off and he was led out the front of the William Street complex in handcuffs to the back of a divisional van.
He was later found guilty of assault and fined $2000 for his role in the fight.
Police prosecutors and protective services officers jumped in to stop the confrontation, which started as an argument between Abdulrahim and another Middle Eastern kickboxer, Omar Bchinnati.
Kickboxer Sam Abdulrahim during a fight.Credit:
Mr Bchinnati was later wounded in a fatal shooting during a boxing event at the Melbourne Pavilion in Kensington in March 2019.
Both Abdulrahim and his father are named as plaintiffs in a writ filed recently in the County Court. It alleges that Victoria Police breached the duty of care it owed to the Abdulrahims by failing to exercise reasonable care for their safety.
The claim for damages states that they have suffered injury and loss.
Five months after the brawl, Abdulrahim was driving a high-powered Ferrari 360 Spider almost 50 kilometres over the speed limit on the wrong side of the road when he clipped two vehicles and ploughed into a Mazda sedan in Reservoir.
The scene of the Reservoir accident in 2015.Credit: @pauldowsley7
In the other car were Lynette Vernall and her 88-year-old mother, Muriel Hulett. Mrs Vernall survived horrific injuries, but Mrs Hulett died after eight days in a coma suffering from extensive neck and chest injuries.
Abdulrahim was subsequently sentenced to three years and three months in jail, with a non-parole period of two years. He had a long history of driving offences, including speeding and driving while unlicensed.
Mrs Vernall slammed the sentence handed down, saying it "diminished my mother's life".
"It was manifestly inadequate. Ten years would have been lovely, eight [years] would have been fine," she said outside court.
Jessika Power.Credit: MATRIX MEDIA
Abdulrahim was released on parole in March 2019 after serving 519 days' pre-sentence detention.
However, his parole was revoked months later because of a series of attempts on his life.
Lawyers for the Adult Parole Board told the Supreme Court that Abdulrahim had been the intended target of two shootings and another firearm incident.
Abdulrahim's sister was also threatened with a gun and his cousins' house was shot at. It was claimed that he was a risk to the public by being out of jail.
That decision was later overturned and Abdulrahim was freed once again.
At one point, he was also romantically linked with Married At First Sight star Jessika Power. Recent videos on his Instagram page show him continuing to train as a kickboxer.
Robinson Gill, the lawfirm representing the Abdulrahims, declined to comment. The firm has taken numerous complaints about police misconduct to court in recent years.
Victoria Police was contacted for comment.
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