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AAP
AAP
National
Tara Cosoleto

Father found guilty of murder over son's stolen wallet

Luke James Picking claimed he accidentally pulled the trigger of a gun which killed a man. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

A father who gunned down another man over claims he stole a wallet has been found guilty of murder.

Luke James Picking, 42, admitted he killed Abdurhman Jemal, 33, in March 2024 but denied he committed murder, arguing he accidentally pulled the trigger.

The Victorian Supreme Court jury on Wednesday rejected his claims, finding Picking guilty of murdering Mr Jemal outside a Glenroy shopping strip in Melbourne's north.

His 19-year-old son Brodi was acquitted of murder but found guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter.

A body is removed from a crime scene (file image)
Abdurhman Jemal was shot dead outside a shopping strip in Melbourne's north in March 2024. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)

The jury was told Brodi knew Mr Jemal, but the pair had a falling out in early March after Brodi accused the 33-year-old of stealing his wallet

The two men had an argument in a Bunnings car park on March 28, with Brodi allegedly telling a friend he was "going to f***ing kill the c***", the jury was told.

In the hour before the shooting, Brodi and Luke Picking drove past locations connected to Mr Jemal, including his mother's home.

They located Mr Jemal driving a red Hyundai in Glenroy and followed him until he pulled over and confronted them.

CCTV footage played to the jury showed yelling between the two groups before Mr Jemal was shot in the face.

Luke James Picking arrives at court (file image)
Luke James Picking admitted he killed Abdurhman Jemal, but denied he committed murder. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

Luke Picking said "you want a f***ing air raid" to Mr Jemal before firing the gun and speeding off, the jury was told.

He died after suffering multiple shotgun pellet wounds to the face and neck.

Prosecutors alleged after the killing, Luke Picking contacted his friend Ian Harris, 49, to dispose of the gun.

Harris was found not guilty of the charge of assisting an offender.

Brodi and Luke Picking were remanded in custody as they wait to face a pre-sentence hearing.

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