NSW: Man killed by blast through front door court told

AAP General News (Australia)
04-17-2000
NSW: Man killed by blast through front door court told

SYDNEY, April 17 AAP - A man was blasted to death through the front door of his home
several days after a car accident in his driveway, a court was told today.

Ahmed Homsi, 51, was shot in the throat as he walked to the door, after an initial
shot was fired through a front window while he was watching television in the back of
the house, prosecutor Bruce Smith said.

Lloyd Anthony Murrell, 29, has pleaded not guilty in the New South Wales Supreme Court
to murdering Mr Homsi at his Lakemba home, in Sydney's west, about midnight on November
10, 1997.

Mr Smith told a jury of 10 women and two men that Murrell had gone to Mr Homsi's house
five days before the shooting after a female friend rang asking for his help when she
lost control of her car and smashed into a car parked in Mr Homsi's driveway.

He said Murrell argued with the owner of the parked car, a friend of Mr Homsi's, when
he learned that police had been called about the accident.

"During the course of the argument the accused threatened (the owner) and said he knew
where he lived," Mr Smith said.

He said when police arrived Murrell was arguing with a group of people outside Mr Homsi's house.

It was alleged that days later Murrell and a friend went back to Mr Homsi's house and
that the friend fired the shotgun.

Mr Smith said Murrell was guilty of murder because he went with his friend with the
intention of either killing Mr Homsi or causing grievous bodily harm.

He said it was alleged that Murrell made some "very damning admissions" about his involvement
in the shooting during a taped conversation with a friend after seeing a televised re-enactment
of the murder on Australia's Most Wanted on June 16, 1998.

Murrell allegedly described the shooting of Mr Homsi telling the friend of seeing his
shadow approaching the front door and then saying to his companion: "Through the door".

"More particularly, the crown says when he said `through the door' he was giving instructions
to shoot through the door," Mr Smith said.

He said during an interview with police Murrell denied arguing with people outside
Mr Homsi's house, describing it more as "he had had words".

Murrell also denied threatening anyone or that he had any knowledge of the murder.

The trial before Justice Timothy Studdert is continuing.

AAP gl/sb/hu/bwl

KEYWORD: MURRELL

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