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Tara Cosoleto

Gunman to spend decades in jail for boxing match murder

Abdullah El Nasher has been sentenced to decades in jail for the shooting murder of Benjamin Togiai. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)

A gunman who shot dead a man outside a boxing match could spend almost 30 years behind bars, with a judge finding he lacked remorse.

Benjamin Togiai was shot in the chest and killed outside the Big Time Boxing event at the Melbourne Pavilion on March 1, 2019.

Another man, Omar Bchinnati, required emergency surgery to remove a bullet from his leg.

A Victorian Supreme Court jury in June found shooter Abdullah El Nasher, 31, guilty of Mr Togiai's murder and intentionally causing serious injury to Mr Bchinnati.

He was sentenced on Tuesday to 29 years and three months behind bars, and will be eligible for parole after 22 years.

Family of murder victim Benjamin Togiai outside the Supreme Court.
Family of Benjamin Togai expressed relief after his killer was sentenced to decades behind bars.

On the night of the boxing match, El Nasher was sitting on table 28 with friends and family while Mr Togiai and Mr Bchinnati were seated at the neighbouring table 64.

The groups taunted and yelled abuse at each other throughout the evening, with El Nasher leaving the venue at one point to get his pistol.

He was stationed across the road from the venue when the two tables were booted out by event organisers just before 10pm.

CCTV footage shows El Nasher running across the street not long after, firing five shots into the crowd.

Osamma Allouche also set off a single shot but the jury found him not guilty of murder or attempted murder.

One of El Nasher's bullets struck Mr Togiai in the chest, killing him at the scene.

Mr Bchinnati was shot a single time in the thigh and he required emergency surgery.

Justice Christopher Beale found El Nasher had the intention to cause really serious injury when he fired the shots, rather than having an intention to kill.

But the 31-year-old was not truly remorseful for his violent offending and his account, that he was acting in self defence, was unreliable, the justice said.

"Had you pleaded guilty, I might have taken a different view," Justice Beale said.

"I hope I am wrong and you are truly remorseful."

El Nasher's supporters yelled out for the 31-year-old to keep his head up as the sentence was handed down on Tuesday morning.

Mr Togiai's sister Sharon said it was a relief that justice had been served for her amazing brother who did everything for everyone.

"But it's really important to understand that no kind of justice will bring back my brother," she told reporters outside of court.

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