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Gambling addict 'shot over debts'

A gambling addict was shot in front of his mother after a pokie windfall because he had more than $16,000 in unpaid loans owing to a city pawnbroker, a court has heard.

Pheap Chea, 32, is facing trial in the Supreme Court for the murder of Blackforest man and gambling addict George Siahamis in April, 2007.

The court heard Mr Siahamis, 33, "bled to death" in the Royal Adelaide Hospital in the hours following the shooting.

Adam Kimber, prosecuting, told the jury Chea, who worked for City Cash, on Bank St, had gone to Mr Siahamis's home within minutes of accessing his account.

The court heard a phone call and "slightly hostile" text messages were exchanged between both men before Chea's arrival at Mr Siahamis's home.

Mr Siahamis and his father were waiting outside their home for Chea and another man who also worked at City Cash, Andrew Fry, to arrive in Chea's Holden Commodore.

"There was an argument and scuffle between the deceased and at least one of the men from that car, if not both," Mr Kimber said.

Mr Kimber said the scuffle "escalated" and as Mr Siahamis's father went to call the police from inside his home, his mother, came outside.

"Things escalated, the loaded firearm that had been brought was produced from the car.

"Initially it was fired into the air on more than one occasion but then it was turned on the deceased at least three times and twice at very close range.

"Tragically the shots took place in front of his mother."

The two men then left in Chea's car, which was later dumped. The men also allegedly disposed of the gun.

Mr Kimber said at least 10 shots were fired, including three into Mr Siahamis legs.

The jury heard the bullets used were "hollow" bullets, designed to do "as much damage as possible once they enter the body".

The bullets used at the shooting allegedly matched those found on a pantry shelf at Chea's Forestville home.

Mr Kimber told the jury Mr Siahamis had a "severe gambling problem".

"He was losing substantial amounts of money and he was in debt," Mr Kimber said.

He said some of the money Mr Siahamis owed was in unsecure loans with monthly repayments of 25 per cent interest.

"This is an arguably highly risky practice when you are loaning to a gambling addict."

But, he said, Mr Siahamis had won $9000 on the pokies three days before his death and had called the City Cash store within 15 minutes of his win.

He had paid back $1500 to City Cash on the day of the alleged shooting.

The trial, before Justice Kevin Duggan, is continuing.