Third Man Charged with Murder Over Drive-By Shooting in Sydney

A third man has been charged with murder as investigations continue into the fatal shooting of a 65-year old woman in Sydney’s south west. 

The incident

Campbelltown City Police Area Command established Strike Force Apslawn following a drive-by shooting which occurred at the woman’s home on Dickens Road in the suburb of Ambarvale, at about 11.00pm on Monday, 14 April 2025.

According to NSW Police Detective Superintendent Grant Healey, “Initial reports say that up to three people got out of a dark-coloured sedan before firing shots at the house and leaving”.

The woman sustained gunshots to her leg and died at the scene.

A 34-year old man and 21-year old woman who were also at the home were uninjured.

Two arrested

Two men aged 32 and 19 had previously been arrested and charged over the alleged murder, both of whom are currently before the courts.

Third arrested

At about 9.25am on Wednesday, 23 July 2025, a 34-year old man attended Parramatta Police Station where he was arrested and charged with murder. 

He was refused bail at the police station and appeared before Parramatta Local Court later that day, where bail was refused by the court.

Search warrant and arrest

As part of ongoing investigations, Strike Force Apslawn detectives executed a search warrant at a home on Parsons Street in Ashcroft at about 4.00pm on Tuesday, 22 July 2025. 

During the search, police seized 11.3 kilograms of cannabis, $91,600 in cash, 31 mobile phones, a laptop computer and a knuckle duster.

A 40-year old man was arrested and taken to Liverpool Police Station where he was charged with two counts of recklessly dealing with proceeds of crime, supplying a prohibited drug of an amount greater than indictable but less than commercial quantity, and possessing goods suspected of being stolen.

He was granted conditional bail to appear before Liverpool Local Court on Wednesday, 13 August 2025.

Investigations under Strike Force Apslawn continue. 

The offence of murder in New South Wales

Murder is an offence under section 18 of the Crimes Act 1900 which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

To establish the offence, the prosecution must prove beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant:

1. Caused the death of another person,
2. Did so by way of a voluntary act or omission, and
3. Did so with the intention to kill or inflict grievous bodily harm, or with reckless indifference to human life, or during or immediately after the commission of an offence punishable by a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison (constructive murder).

An intention to kill or cause grievous bodily harm (GBH) means that at the time the defendant engaged in the subject act or omission, he or she meant to kill or cause GBH to the victim.

GBH means ‘very serious harm’, and includes but is not limited to:

• Any permanent or serious disfigurement,
• The destruction of a foetus, other than by a medical procedure, and
• Any grievous bodily disease.

The required intent may be established where:

• A continuous course of events led to the victim’s death, and the defendant meant to kill or cause GBH at any time during those events,
• The defendant meant to kill or cause GBH but genuinely believed his or her actions would not lead to that outcome, or
• The defendant meant to kill or cause GBH to a particular person but instead caused the death of a bystander.

A defendant is recklessly indifferent to human life if he or she did, or omitted to do, an act foreseeing that death would be the probable result.

Legal defence to murder 

Although it seems it is unlikely to be available in the present case, the most common defence to a charge of murder is self-defence.

e defence is contained in section 418 of the Crimes Act 1900, which states that a person is not criminally responsible if he or she believes the actions were carried out in self-defence, and the conduct is a reasonable response to the perceived circumstances.

Self-defence is a complete defence, which means the person is entitled to be found not guilty for their actions.

The defence is available where the conduct is necessary to:

• Defend oneself or another person, or
• Prevent or terminate the unlawful deprivation of ones liberty or the liberty of another person, or
• Protect property from unlawful taking, destruction, damage or interference, or
• Prevent criminal trespass to any land or premises or to remove a person committing any such criminal trespass.

This extends to situations where a person steps in to defend another person.

However, section 420 of the Act makes clear that self-defence is not available where a person uses force that involves the intentional or reckless infliction of death only to protect property or prevent a trespass.

And section 421 provides that where a person uses excessive force to defend themselves or another, including to prevent the unlawful deprivation of liberty, and that force results in their target’s death, the person will be criminally responsible for manslaughter rather than murder provided that he or she believed the conduct was necessary in the circumstances.

Significantly, section 419 stipulates that if evidence of self-defence is raised, the prosecution must then prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the actions did not amount to self-defence. If the prosecution is unable to do this, the defendant must be acquitted.

Charged with a criminal offence?

If you have been accused of a criminal offence, call Sydney Criminal Lawyers 24/7 on (02) 9261 8881 to arrange a free first conference with an experienced defence lawyer with a proven track record of successfully defending serious and complex criminal charges.