‘What's Windex for': Bizarre search after murders of Salim, Toufic Hamze

News.com.au

5 days ago

A man who asked to be paid in cocaine for storing two cars used in an infamous Sydney double murder searched 'what's Windex used for' as he organised for one to be cleaned.
Teenage gangster Salim Hamze and his tradie dad Toufik Hamze, 64, were shot dead as they sat in a red ute outside the family's Guildford home on October 20, 2021.
A court heard on Thursday that a gunman unloaded a full round of ammunition into their car before more shots were fired as a getaway vehicle sped off.
They died at the height of a feud between the Hamzy (or Hamze) and Alameddine crime networks, with Salim believed to have played a pivotal role in other shootings.
Two men charged over roles in the aftermath of the father and son's murders, Suliman Hamza and SH, faced sentence in court on Thursday.
Hamza, 23, pleaded guilty to two counts of accessory after the fact to murder, two counts of receiving stolen property – being a silver Lexus and Ford Mustang used as getaway cars – and one of disposing stolen property, the Mustang.
SH, who was 16 at the time, pleaded guilty to two counts of being an accessory after the fact to a serious indictable offence.
Neither were accused of having any involvement in the shootings, nor knowledge of what was about to unfold.
At a hearing last week, Crown prosecutor Mitchell Paish told the Downing Centre District Court that SH had displayed 'some sorrow' for the elder Hamze's death but not for 18-year-old Salim.
'He thinks that the death of this young man is just part of this game that he willingly joined himself,' Mr Paish said.
Mr Paish argued that SH's involvement was an example of how gangs outsourced tasks to young associates 'to distance the assassins and those who hire them'.
'These matters are becoming more rife … yes he's seen that he's been used, but he still wants to associate with these people,' he said.
'They're part of his community.'
The court heard on Thursday that Hamza organised for the Lexus and Ford, both of which were previously stolen, to be moved between different locations in western Sydney in the weeks before the murders.
Judge Sharon Harris said that on the night of October 19, 2021, SH was directed by Hamza to leave the grey Ford Mustang parked on a Guildford street with its key on a tyre.
'When are they picking it up cuz,' SH asked Hamza via messages.
'Right now,' he replied.
The next day, after it was used as a getaway car in the shooting, the grey Mustang was dropped at a co-accused's home and Hamza said he would move it.
He texted the associate, 'we're gonna bleach and Windex everything before it's moved', but not before he looked up 'what's windex used for'.
Police seized the Mustang at the co-accused's home in Guildford on October 22, and found Windex in the garage.
The silver Lexus was used in the shooting itself and was burnt out by the assassins.
Hamza's barrister, Avni Djemal SC, last week told the court his client's phone searches for how to use Windex showed he was a 'novice'
Mr Djemal said Hamza, then 19, had 'no idea' the cars were to be used in a murder when he initially agreed to store them.
Judge Harris said Hamza's actions after the murders were motivated by 'misguided loyalty and self-preservation'.
She revealed he was then dealing with drug use issues and asked to be paid in cocaine instead of cash for storing the cars.
SH was 'impulsive and immature' but also influenced by criminal connections, the judge said.
As recently as last month SH told a psychologist he remained close to known criminals who were in what he called 'the game', the court heard.
SH said letting them down 'was not an option', according to Judge Harris.
Hamza, the court heard, told a psychologist the manner in which the Hamzes died 'still haunts him and he wished he played no part'.
Judge Harris sentenced Hamza to four years in prison, with a non-parole period of two years and 11 months. With time served he will be eligible for parole in October.
SH was sentenced to a two-year intensive correction order and told he could be taken into custody if he breached conditions, including not to interact with criminal associates.
The man who police suspect shot Salim and Toufik Hamze, identified as Zaid Abdelhafez, remains at large and is believed to have fled overseas.
An arrest warrant has been issued for Mr Abdelhafez, 22, while Alameddine clan leader Rafat Alameddine and associate John Bayssari are also wanted by police over the murders.
Mr Alameddine and Mr Bayssari are also believed to be living offshore.