Gunman jailed for Melbourne cafe shooting

Fired up after a debate about whether Christians and Muslims should be allowed to marry, a man grabbed a gun and shot two rounds in a cafe in actions that have cost him his liberty.

Melbourne man Nasser El Kheir was on Tuesday handed a one-year prison term for his offending in June last year at Broadmeadows' Babylon Coffee Shop.

"An argument started between you and a number of patrons about marriage between Christians and Muslims. You became highly agitated, gesticulating and yelling," County Court Judge Gabriele Cannon said while sentencing.

El Kheir, then 55, was escorted from the cafe by the owner and his brother, but returned five minutes later with a black handgun that he produced from his jacket.

During the 40-second episode, the "heavily intoxicated" El Kheir fired two shots while yelling "where is he?".

One of the shots hit a ceiling beam and the other near a table where patrons were sitting.

At least 14 people were inside the cafe, but no one was injured.

One of the customers called triple zero and police attended, seizing two 9mm cartridges.

Police searched El Kheir's home - just across the road from the cafe - the following day in the gunman's absence but could not locate the firearm.

El Kheir handed himself in to police almost a week later, claiming one of the men he was arguing with made a slit-throat gesture at him.

"Your offending is most serious," Judge Cannon said.

"And your conduct must be denounced.

"I viewed the CCTV footage of this incident and it makes for terrifying viewing.

"Your actions may have caused lasting harm to all of those who you terrorised."

Judge Cannon said in the light of day, El Kheir realised his reactions were disproportionate and had since behaved in a "most impressive" way in jail.

She said she expected El Kheir would surrender the weapon.

"I expect that you will follow through on this as soon as you are released from jail," she said.

El Kheir previously pleaded guilty to conduct endangering life and being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm.

He was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment, of which he has already served 308 days.

Upon his release from prison, El Kheir will undergo a two-year community corrections order, during which he must not be within 100 metres of the Babylon Coffee Shop.