Vic: Family of slain man ejected from courtroom

AAP General News (Australia)
08-09-2004
Vic: Family of slain man ejected from courtroom

By Mariza Fiamengo

MELBOURNE, Aug 9 AAP - The family of a man gunned down at his home during an armed
robbery were today ejected from a committal hearing for three men accused of his murder.

Magistrate Peter Couzens ejected the family of 28-year-old Robert D'Amico, from the
Melbourne Magistrate's Court after allegations surfaced that associates of the family
had threatened a witness.

Mr D'Amico was shot dead during the robbery of his home on September 1 last year.

Craig Galas, 30, of Keilor Park; Steve Mikhael, 22, and Ismail Muhaidat, 23, both of
Broadmeadows; have been charged with his murder, armed robbery and aggravated burglary.

Mr Couzens cleared the public gallery after police said witness David Craig Walker
had been threatened by people associated with the D'Amico family.

"He was extremely shaken by what's happened and told me he can't give his evidence
in the presence of the majority of people here," a homicide detective told the court.

Friends and family of the dead man expressed their anger as they left the court room.

"I am going to kick all your arses ... if I see you three I am going to kick all your
arses," one of Mr D'Amico's friends said, pointing at the three accused men.

One man smashed a glass panel outside the courtroom which fell on people standing in
a public area.

No one was injured.

Mr Walker, 35, who shared a house with Mr D'Amico at Tullamarine, north of Melbourne,
told the court he believed three men broke into their home to steal marijuana and money.

He said he had been selling marijuana for about six years.

Mr Walker said he and Mr D'Amico had been using marijuana on the night of the killing.

He told the court he was in bed when he heard banging at the front door just before
two men armed with a gun and baton came into his room.

One of the men asked: "Where's the cash and the stuff?" and started taping his wrists
together, Mr Walker said.

A gunshot rang out and the man taping his wrists ran from the room and shouted: "What
have you done? What's happened?" in a "hysterical" voice, Mr Walker told the court.

He said he saw three men run out of the house and discovered Mr D'Amico bleeding and
lying on the floor near the front door.

Mr Walker said he went to his parent's house, a three-minute drive away, where his
mother told him to go to the police.

The hearing continues tomorrow.

Police said they would investigate the threat allegations against Mr Walker.

AAP mf/dk/sco/bwl

KEYWORD: GALAS

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