Sydney father shot dead was in the wrong place at the wrong time, court hears

A Sydney court has heard a man shot dead while sitting in his car at Heckenberg was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. 

“Mr Qusay Jabbar Al Mhanawi was caught up in events that he was not meant to be a part of in any way, shape or form” Crown Prosecutor Giles Tabuteau told the Supreme Court today. 

Mathew Russell, 30, faced trial today charged with murder after he fired the gun during a fight with brothers Latu Vakuata and Tyson Parker in March 2016.

The jury was told all three lived around Whitlam Park and tensions had been building for the month or so before the shooting, with Russell occasionally following them.

“Making threatening gestures…waving a gun or so on,” Mr Tabuteau said. 

On the day of the killing Russell had fired a shot at the pair. One of the brothers then threw a rock which smashed a passenger window.

Russell did a U-turn and pulled up outside the victim’s home as the brothers hid behind parked cars.

He yelled “stand up Tyson, stand up".

“Go one on one,” Mr Parker replied. 

Another two shots were then fired, one of which hit Mr Al Mhanawi in the head.

The Corolla the victim was in careered into a fence, hitting Mr Parker on the way through.

Russell drove away and hid his car in Green Valley, where it was found the following day.

He went to Green Valley Police Station with his lawyer three or four days afterwards.

The prosecution argued that this was evidence that "the accused realised he had done something wrong - a consciousness of guilt if you like".

He told the court a central issue was likely to be whether Russell acted in self defence - a claim that the prosecution disputes.