A man has been jailed for his involvement in a drive-by shooting after his DNA was recovered on a McDonald’s straw he abandoned after the incident.
Michael Alfred, 22, was found guilty by a Victoria County Court jury of being part of a shooting outside Chasers nightclub in South Yarra, Melbourne, in February 2020.
One man, Machar Machar, 19, was injured during the shooting after prominent Melbourne rapper Sean ‘BBG Smokey’ Deng performed at the club.
Alfred was sitting in the passenger seat of a stolen Audi used in the shooting, which was later found abandoned next to a McDonald’s cup and fake license plates, according to court documents.
While prosecutors could not prove whether he fired the gun, they linked him to the incident after his DNA was found on the cup and plates.
A man has been jailed for his involvement in a drive-by shooting at Melbourne’s Chasers nightclub in February 2020 (pictured, police at the scene)
Michael Alfred, 22, was linked to the incident by DNA evidence on a McDonald’s straw (file image) found abandoned next to the stolen vehicle used in the shooting.
Presiding Judge Andrew Palmer said the DNA evidence presented by prosecutors was damning for Alfred.
“You were 270 times more likely than not to contribute to a mixed DNA profile found on the screws of the Audi’s fake rear license plate, while your left thumbprint was found on the license plate itself,” he said, Herald of the sun reports.
Judge Palmer also noted that the stolen vehicle “circled the block several times” before shots were fired.
He said this suggested Alfred and the driver were hanging around looking for a specific person, most likely Mr Machar.
Despite admitting that Alfred could not be found guilty of firing the gun, Judge Palmer said he would be sentenced based on the fact that he “had knowledge” of the shooting.
Alfred was found guilty of robbery, causing injury with intent and possessing a firearm as a prohibited person.
He received an 18-month non-parole period but has already served 264 days in custody.
While he could not be charged with firing the gun that wounded 19-year-old Machar Machar (pictured), he was sentenced for having knowledge of the shooting.