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Tara Cosoleto

Man guilty of trying to murder ex-wife's new partner

A jury took four hours to find a man who fired five shots guilty of attempted murder. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)

A man who repeatedly shot his ex-wife's new partner at a roadside flower stall has been found guilty of attempted murder.

Abil Malovski, 39, was on trial in the Victorian Supreme Court, admitting he did shoot Steven 'Stewie' Grant last year but saying he did so in self-defence.

The jury disagreed, taking four hours to deliberate before reaching its guilty verdict on Tuesday afternoon.

The jury was told Malovski was extremely hostile toward Mr Grant and bitterly resentful of the role his former wife's new partner seemed to be playing in the lives of their two young children.

Malovski and his former wife had separated in February 2021.

The day before Mother's Day last year, the woman and Mr Grant were selling flowers at a roadside reserve in Melton, northwest of Melbourne, which was a tradition started by her father.

Malovski drove past the reserve, saw the pair and returned a short time later, where he chased Mr Grant around the reserve and fired multiple shots.

Five bullets struck Mr Grant, who was initially diagnosed as a complete paraplegic after the shooting.

He has since made some steps towards recovery. 

Malovski will return to the Supreme Court for a pre-sentence hearing in December. 

He was remanded in custody.

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