UPDATE: A father has confessed to fatally shooting another man during an incident in a suburban Melbourne street, claiming it was an accident. Luke James Picking, 42, admitted to killing Abdurhman Jemal, 33, on March 29, 2024, but insists he did not intend to murder.
During a tense trial at the Victoria Supreme Court, Picking’s lawyers argued he should be convicted of manslaughter instead of murder. “What happened here was a warning that went wrong,” said barrister Peter Morrissey SC, emphasizing that Picking did not mean to pull the trigger.
According to prosecutors, Picking and his son, Brodi, 19, ambushed Jemal outside a shopping strip in Glenroy around 4:30 AM. Tensions had escalated after Brodi accused Jemal of stealing his wallet, leading to a confrontation the day before the shooting. The jury was informed that Brodi had threatened Jemal during an argument, stating he was “going to f***ing kill the c***.”
In the lead-up to the shooting, it is alleged that the Pickings stalked Jemal, tracking him to various locations connected to him, including his mother’s house. Surveillance footage presented in court revealed a heated exchange before Jemal was shot in the face. Before the shooting, Luke reportedly taunted Jemal, saying, “You want a f***ing air raid,” before firing the deadly shot.
Jemal managed to sound his car horn after being shot but succumbed to multiple shotgun pellets in his face and neck. Morrissey argued that Picking had only intended to intimidate Jemal, stating, “He did mean to present the gun… but he didn’t mean to pull the trigger.” The defense plans to introduce testimony from a neurologist indicating that Picking has issues with his hands that contributed to the incident.
Meanwhile, Brodi’s lawyer, Rishi Nathwani KC, acknowledged his client’s presence in the vehicle during the shooting but stressed that Brodi was unaware of the loaded gun and never conspired with his father to kill Jemal. “He did not positively assist or encourage his dad to do so,” Nathwani argued.
After the shooting, Luke Picking reportedly contacted a friend, Ian Harris, 49, to dispose of the weapon. Harris’s attorney maintained that he was unaware the firearm had been used in the murder, arguing that the jury should have serious doubts about his guilt in assisting an alleged murderer.
The trial, overseen by Justice Jane Dixon, is ongoing as the court delves into the complexities of this tragic situation. What happens next will be closely monitored as the jury weighs the evidence and testimonies presented.
