Fatal Donnybrook home invasion shooting to be investigated at inquest

A group of armed intruders stormed into a Donnybrook house in January last year and left a man for dead. Now, police are honing in on one piece of evidence to crack the case.

Police at the scene of a fatal shooting in Donnybrook last year. Picture: David Crosling

What happened in a deadly home invasion shooting at Donnybrook is set to be investigated at inquest.

The homicide squad has been unable to lay murder or manslaughter charges over the fatal altercation at a Middlemount St home 13 months ago.

A group of intruders armed with a machete stormed into the house in the dead of night on January 7.

A bullet sits under a forensic container at the scene of a fatal shooting in Donnybrook. Picture: David Crosling

A broken window at the Donnybrook house where a man was fatally shot. Picture: David Crosling

At home were a 28-year-old man with suspected organised crime links and a woman, aged 27.

Within minutes, one man was critically injured, later to die at the scene.

A second victim presented himself to the Northern Hospital in Epping with a nasty gunshot wound but survived.

The woman from the house was later found at Doreen, the same suburb where a gun was also recovered.

Police at the scene of a fatal shooting in Donnybrook in January 2024. Picture: David Crosling

The Coronial inquiry is likely to look into whether the gun was brought to the house or whether it was already there when the intruders arrived.

The Herald Sun revealed in June that the result of the inquiry could come down to a question of whether the fatal shot was fired in self-defence.

A court hearing last year outlined alleged links between those who stormed the Middlemount St home and a man accused of being a lieutenant of Iraq-based organised crime boss Kazem Hamad.

Kazem Hamad (left) at the footy with Toby Mitchell and senior Mongol bikie Tyrone Bell. Picture: Instagram

Detective Senior Constable Matthew Lindsay said the visitors contacted an organised crime figure who spoke to Hamad about what to do with two cars they had used.

“Our friends say to burn them,” was the command allegedly relayed.

Lunar was set up in 2023 to investigate Melbourne’s out-of-control illicit tobacco rackets and associated gang conflict.

Hamad has been a major person of interest for investigators and is suspected of using a wave of shop torchings in a fight for control of the illegal sector and to extract standover money.

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said detectives from the homicide had conducted a significant investigation into the events in Middlemount St.

“After careful consideration and evaluation of the available evidence, it was determined that charges would not be laid in relation to this death at this time,” she said.

“As such, a brief has been prepared for the Coroner.”

Originally published as Fatal Donnybrook home invasion shooting to be investigated at inquest