Carl Williams' stepdaughter charged with attempted murder
The stepdaughter of slain Melbourne underworld crime boss Carl Williams has been granted bail after facing court charged with attempted murder.
Danielle Stephens, 22, was charged with attempted murder after a 22-year-old man was hospitalised with gunshot wounds on Monday night.
She has also been charged with intentionally causing serious injury, recklessly causing serious injury and causing serious injury.
Court has heard Danielle Stephens went with boyfriend & his mate to confront a man. Mate shot victim with shotgun. She drove getaway car.
— Kate Jones (@Kate_Jones7) November 7, 2014
Victim was able to drive to safety. Has 22 shotgun pellets lodged in upper body. He's now in hiding. Fears Stephens being bailed.
— Kate Jones (@Kate_Jones7) November 7, 2014
Gangland boss Carl Williams's stepdaughter Danielle Stephens has been granted bail on charges including attempted murder. #7NewsMelb
— Kate Jones (@Kate_Jones7) November 7, 2014
Danielle Stephens must return to court on Monday so victim can obtain intervention order. Bail conditions include curfew & living with dad.
— Kate Jones (@Kate_Jones7) November 7, 2014
Police allege Stephens drove her father's car to a street in an industrial estate in Broadmeadows late on Monday night where a co-accused, 23-year-old Tugay Afacan, fired a shotgun at the victim.
Stephens' de facto partner, 25-year-old Sanar Ghanim, and Afacan have also been charged with attempted murder.
The victim has 22 shotgun pellets lodged in his face, chest, arms and groin, Detective Senior Constable Matthew Walsh told the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday.
The man went to the Broadmeadows street on Monday night to sort out a verbal dispute with Afacan, the court heard.
Det Sen Const Walsh said Stephens and Ghanim were sitting in a BMW when the victim arrived.
Afacan, who was behind the BMW, came towards the victim with a silver shotgun and fired, hitting the man in his face, arm, chest and groin, Det Sen Const Walsh told the court.
As the victim got back into his car he heard Ghanim shout "shoot him again", Det Sen Const Walsh said
He said the victim thought the assault was out of proportion to the dispute.
"He's extremely emotionally traumatised in relation to what happened," Det Sen Const Walsh said.
A lawyer for Stephens, who is the daughter of Williams' ex-wife Roberta Williams, told the court Stephens had no prior convictions and could not be shown to have personally possessed the firearm.
Defence counsel Emma Turnbull also said the prosecution didn't have any evidence of a prior agreement between the three co-accused before the incident.
"There's no evidence that Miss Stephens had anything to do at all with discharging the firearm," Ms Turnbull told the court.
Strict bail conditions were imposed on the Lalor woman, including requiring that she live with her father and not contact the victim or either of the two co-accused.
Stephens, Ghanim and Afacan will return to the Melbourne Magistrates Court for a committal mention on February 6 next year.
Ghanim, 25, of Lalor, is charged with attempted murder, attempting to cause serious injury, recklessly causing serious injury and intentionally causing serious injury and possessing a firearm.
He also faces drugs charges for possessing and cultivating cannabis.
Afacan, 23, of Taylors Lakes, appeared in court on Thursday.
Victoria's afternoon news update - November 07
