Mouhamad ‘Michael’ Rajab and Ali Rajab: Family left feuding as two cousins face court after death of Gianluca Severino

The family of a man killed over a laptop dispute has described the moment they learned of his death as a “nightmare”, as two cousins face court. Ali Rajab appeared in Victoria’s Supreme Court on Thursday where he pleaded guilty to the manslaugher of Gianluca Severino, while cousin Mouhamad ‘Michael’ Rajab admitted common assault and theft. The court was told the two men travelled to the victim’s Thomastown house late on July 11 last year to buy methamphetamine from Mr Severino. The interaction escalated, Crown prosecutor Jeremy McWilliams said, after Ali accused Mr Severino of having his laptop, before the two cousins assaulted him. Ali then delivered a single fatal stab wound to Mr Severino in the laundry of the house and fled. Michael remained at the home and called triple-0, claiming Mr Severino had fallen and injured himself. Tensions had raised between the two men’s families due to the court case, Michael’s barrister Neville Rudston told the court, and people insulted his client as he entered on Thursday morning. The claim of ostracisation of his cousin was met by groans from Ali. Many family members were present in the court’s public gallery supporting Ali, the man who admitted manslaughter, and were seen waving to him from above and blowing him kisses. Mr Severino’s family were also present in court, with his mother weeping as the prosecution laid out the chain of events that led to her son’s death last year. “On July 12, 2024, the knock on my door was the worst nightmare of my life,” she said. The court was told the cousins’ actions had left a “precious little girl” fatherless and his twin brother “deeply, deeply wounded and affected”. Ali has been remanded in custody by Justice James Gorton and will appear for sentencing at 3pm next Monday. Michael, whose lawyer is pushing for him to be placed on a community corrections order, will remain on bail until his sentencing at a later date.