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, went on trial in the Victorian Supreme Court and admitted shooting Steven ‘Stewie’ Grant last year, but said he did so in self-defence.
The jury disagreed and took four hours to deliberate before reaching a guilty verdict Tuesday afternoon.
The jury was told that Malovski was extremely hostile to Mr Grant and bitterly resentful of the role his ex-wife’s new partner seemed to play in the lives of their two young children.
Malovski and his ex-wife had separated in February 2021.
The Victorian Supreme Court has found Abil Malovski, 39, guilty of attempted murder after shooting his ex-wife’s new partner in 2022 (pictured, scene of incident in Melton)
The jury was told that Malovski was extremely hostile to Mr Grant and bitterly resentful of the role his ex-wife’s new partner seemed to play in the lives of their two young children.
The day before Mother’s Day last year, the woman and Mr Grant sold flowers at a roadside reserve in Melton, northwest of Melbourne, 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 through the reserve and fired several shots.
Five bullets struck Mr Grant, who was initially diagnosed as completely paralyzed after the shooting.
Since then, he has taken some steps towards recovery.
Malovski will return to the Supreme Court in December for a pre-sentence hearing.
He was taken into custody.