UPDATE: A father has confessed to shooting another man in a suburban street in Melbourne, but claims it was an accidental act. During a trial at the Victoria Supreme Court, Luke James Picking, aged 42, admitted to killing Abdurhman Jemal, 33, on March 29, 2024, yet insists he should be charged with manslaughter, not murder.
The courtroom drama unfolded as Picking’s lawyers argue that the shooting was a “clumsy accident.” Picking’s barrister, Peter Morrissey SC, described the incident as a warning that spiraled out of control. “He did mean to present the gun… but he didn’t mean to pull the trigger,” Morrissey stated.
PROSECUTORS allege that Picking and his son, Brodi, aged 19, ambushed Jemal outside a shopping strip in Glenroy around 4:30 AM. The tension reportedly stemmed from a prior falling out between Jemal and Brodi, who accused Jemal of stealing his wallet. Just hours before the shooting, the two men had a heated argument in a nearby Bunnings car park, with Brodi allegedly threatening, “I’m going to f***ing kill the c***.”
In the lead-up to the attack, prosecutors claim that the father-son duo drove past locations linked to Jemal, including his mother’s home. They eventually located Jemal driving a red Hyundai and followed him until he pulled over. Disturbing CCTV footage played in court captured the confrontation, which escalated to violence as Jemal was shot in the face.
Witnesses reported that before firing the weapon, Picking taunted Jemal, stating, “You want a f***ing air raid.” After the shot was fired, Jemal managed to sound his car horn before collapsing from the gunshot wounds. He later died from multiple shotgun pellets to the face and neck.
Morrissey informed the jury that Picking had previously offered a plea to manslaughter, but prosecutors rejected it, insisting he should face murder charges. Meanwhile, Brodi’s defense attorney, Rishi Nathwani KC, acknowledged his client was present during the incident but maintained that Brodi was unaware of the loaded weapon and did not conspire with his father to commit the crime.
“It should be clear that he did not positively assist or encourage his dad to do so,” Nathwani asserted, questioning whether Brodi was still emotionally affected by the wallet theft at the time of the shooting.
Following the incident, Luke Picking allegedly contacted a friend, Ian Harris, aged 49, asking him to dispose of the firearm. Harris’ lawyer, Rahmin de Kretser, contended that Harris did take possession of the gun but was unaware that it had been used in a murder.
The trial is ongoing, and the jury continues to weigh the evidence. As details emerge, the emotional weight of the case raises significant questions about accountability and intent in tragic circumstances.
Stay tuned for updates on this developing story as the trial unfolds.
