Jury discharged in trial of man accused of Bilal Hamze’s murder
The jury was discharged after failing to reach a verdict in Bilal Hamze’s gang murder case.
Bilal Hamze died on June 17, 2021, when he was shot a total of 10 times while leaving a restaurant in Sydney’s Central Business District.
Samuel John Rokomaqisa was charged with murder and conspiracy to kill the man’s younger brother, Ibrahim.
Ibrahim narrowly escaped a murder plot just months later on August 14 when a stolen car swerved around his North Sydney home and missed him by just 58 seconds, the court was told.
The jury was discharged Thursday morning after weeks of deliberations.
Acting Judge Robert Allan Hulme confirmed with the jury foreman that even if they were given more time they would be unlikely to return the verdicts.
“I formally discharge you as a jury in this case,” Judge Hulme said.
“Before I go, I want to thank you for your service. You’ve been here much longer than anyone expected.”
The matter has been postponed until next month when next steps will be determined.
Both Bilal and Ibrahim were listed as senior members of the Alameddine organized crime network (OCN) on a hierarchy map submitted to the NSW Supreme Court; The jury had previously said it was clear that the Alameddins were in conflict with Hamze OCN at the time Bilal was shot.
Samuel John Rokomaqisa, allegedly affiliated with the Alameddine family, was accused of murdering Bilal, conspiring to kill Ibrahim, and carjacking an elderly man following a thwarted murder plot.
Some of Bilal’s final moments were played out in court during the trial, including security footage showing Bilal appearing to jump back and roll towards the pavement before falling to the ground.
It was reported that he was grunting and groaning as he lay on the pavement outside the restaurant after being shot 10 times from a stolen Audi, minutes after he had finished his meal with a sex worker.
A person who was on the phone with the ambulance operator was bleeding from his mouth while trying to find out where his wound was, and Bilal died in the hospital a short time later.
The stolen black Audi allegedly used in Bilal’s shooting was later found burnt.
More to come…
