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Darwiche–Razzak–Fahda family conflict

SOLVED2001South-west Sydney, New South Wales, Australia3 SOURCESUPDATED JUL 2026
Illustrative

The Darwiche–Razzak–Fahda family conflict was a series of murders and assaults among three Australian families of Lebanese descent in south-west Sydney, New South Wales, occurring between February 2001 and March 2009. Some family members were part of rival cannabis operations, and marital breakdowns were also reportedly a factor. Khadjie Darwiche was married to Ali Abdul Razzak, and Ramzi Aouad was married to Donna Fahda; both marriages broke down, contributing to the escalating violence.

The conflict reportedly began with a February 2001 confrontation between Adnan Darwiche and Bilal Razzak at a Bankstown cafe, followed by shootings at both families' residences. A period of relative peace followed the 2001 death of Darwiche patriarch Farouk Darwiche, during which Adnan Darwiche reportedly abandoned his drug business and became more religious. The feud reignited in 2003 with the shooting of Khaled Taleb, the Yanderra Street shooting, and the murder of Ali Abdul Razzak outside Lakemba Mosque, for which Adnan Darwiche was later acquitted and no one else was charged.

The violence escalated further with the Lawford Street murders on 14 October 2003, in which Ziad Razzak and Mervat Nemra were killed in a shooting at a Greenacre house, and the murder of Ahmed Fahda on 30 October 2003 at a Punchbowl service station. Naseam El-Zeyat and Ramzi Aouad were convicted of Fahda's murder, but successfully appealed in 2011; a new trial was ordered, and the charges were later dropped by the Director of Public Prosecutions in May 2012. Further incidents included the Kings Head Tavern shooting in December 2003 and the Mons Street shooting in May 2004, the latter resulting in convictions against Mohamed Razzak that were partly overturned on appeal.

Trials arising from the conflict took place in the Supreme Court and District Court of New South Wales. On 9 August 2006, Adnan Darwiche was convicted in relation to the shooting of Bilal Razzak, the Yanderra Street shooting and the Lawford Street murders, and acquitted of the murder of Ali Abdul Razzak; El-Zeyat, Aouad and Osman were also convicted of the Lawford Street murders. On 10 November 2006, Justice Bell sentenced Adnan Darwiche to two terms of life imprisonment and 20 years, and El-Zeyat and Aouad each to three terms of life imprisonment; Osman received 27 years.

Nearly five years after the last recorded family violence, Abdul Darwiche was shot and killed on 14 March 2009 outside a restaurant in Bass Hill in front of his family. Police suspected the killing was carried out by Mohammed Fahda in revenge for his brother Ahmed's 2003 murder. Mohammed Fahda was arrested on 28 September 2009, convicted of the murder, and sentenced to 14 years' imprisonment; an appeal of his conviction was dismissed.

In July 2020, crime journalist Mahmood Fazal published an essay on the conflict, focusing on Ramzi Aouad's case and detailing allegations of police corruption, intimidation and coercion in the judicial process, along with allegations of financial cooperation between the NSW Police Force and an alleged crime family.

Key facts

Victims
Ali Abdul Razzak, Ziad Razzak, Bilal Razzak, Ahmed Fahda, Abdul Darwiche, Mervat Nemra
Date
2001
Location
South-west Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Case status
solved

Case timeline

  1. 2001-02

    A confrontation between Adnan Darwiche and Bilal Razzak at a Bankstown cafe reportedly sparked the conflict, followed by shootings at both families' residences.

  2. 2001-06-17

    Bilal Razzak was shot and paralysed by Adnan Darwiche (and a suspected second man) in his Bankstown unit.

  3. 2001

    Darwiche patriarch Farouk Darwiche died; a period of relative peace among the families followed.

  4. 2003-07-30

    Khaled Taleb was shot in both legs at a Bankstown butcher shop, reigniting the feud.

  5. 2003-08-27

    Yanderra Street shooting: gunmen fired dozens of rounds at a Condell Park house occupied by the Razzak family; no one was hit.

  6. 2003-08-29

    Ali Abdul Razzak was shot and killed near Lakemba Mosque.

  7. 2003-10-14

    Lawford Street murders: Ziad Razzak and Mervat Nemra were killed in a shooting at a Greenacre house.

  8. 2003-10-30

    Ahmed Fahda was fatally shot at a service station in Punchbowl.

  9. 2003-12-07

    Kings Head Tavern shooting occurred in Hurstville, injuring a bystander.

  10. 2004-05-08

    Mons Street shooting: Michael Darwiche was shot and injured outside his Condell Park home.

  11. 2003-11-05

    Three men were arrested at Star City Casino and questioned about Ahmed Fahda's murder.

  12. 2003-11-28

    Adnan Darwiche was arrested.

  13. 2006-05-16

    A Supreme Court jury acquitted Adnan Darwiche of charges related to Fahda's murder and convicted El-Zeyat and Aouad.

  14. 2006-08-09

    Adnan Darwiche was convicted in relation to the shooting of Bilal Razzak, the Yanderra Street shooting and the Lawford Street murders, and acquitted of the murder of Ali Abdul Razzak; El-Zeyat, Aouad and Osman were convicted of the Lawford Street murders.

  15. 2006-11-10

    Justice Bell sentenced Adnan Darwiche, El-Zeyat, Aouad and Osman.

  16. 2007-03-23

    A District Court jury acquitted Samear and Rabia Abdul Razzak of Mons Street shooting charges and convicted Mohamed Razzak.

  17. 2008-12-16

    Mohamed Razzak appealed his conviction and sentence in the Court of Criminal Appeal; some convictions overturned, sentence unchanged.

  18. 2009-03-14

    Abdul Darwiche was shot and killed outside a restaurant in Bass Hill.

  19. 2009-03-19

    Michael Darwiche and Michael Darwick were arrested by Strike Force Lieutenant officers in Bankstown.

  20. 2009-09-28

    Mohammed Fahda was arrested in connection with the murder of Abdul Darwiche.

  21. 2011-04-08

    El-Zeyat and Aouad successfully appealed their conviction for the murder of Ahmed Fahda; a new trial was ordered.

  22. 2012-05-30

    The Director of Public Prosecutions dropped the charges against El-Zeyat and Aouad regarding Fahda's murder.

  23. 2020-07

    Crime journalist Mahmood Fazal released an essay on the conflict, focusing on Ramzi Aouad's case and alleging police corruption.

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People

  • Ali Abdul Razzak

    VICTIM

    Shot and killed near Lakemba Mosque on 29 August 2003.

  • Ziad Razzak

    VICTIM

    Killed in the Lawford Street shooting on 14 October 2003.

  • Bassam Said

    CHARGED

    Charged as an accessory to the murder of Ahmed Fahda.

  • Ramzi Aouad

    CONVICTED

    Convicted of the Lawford Street murders and originally convicted of Ahmed Fahda's murder; sentenced to three terms of life imprisonment; the Fahda murder conviction was overturned on appeal in 2011 and charges later dropped.

  • Rabia Abdul-Razzak

    ACQUITTED

    Acquitted of all charges related to the Mons Street shooting.

  • Adnan Darwiche

    CONVICTED

    Convicted of the shooting of Bilal Razzak, the Yanderra Street shooting and the Lawford Street murders; sentenced to two terms of life imprisonment and 20 years; acquitted of the murder of Ali Abdul Razzak and of charges related to Ahmed Fahda's murder.

  • Bilal Razzak

    VICTIM

    Shot and paralysed on 17 June 2001; later charged and pleaded guilty to contempt of court for refusing to give evidence at trial.

  • Hussein Fahda

    CHARGED

    Arrested and charged on firearms offences and denied bail.

  • Naseam El-Zeyat

    CONVICTED

    Convicted of the Lawford Street murders and originally convicted of Ahmed Fahda's murder; sentenced to three terms of life imprisonment; the Fahda murder conviction was overturned on appeal in 2011 and charges later dropped.

  • Abass Osman

    CONVICTED

    Convicted of the Lawford Street murders; sentenced to 27 years' imprisonment, eligible for parole in 22 years.

  • Ahmed Fahda

    VICTIM

    Fatally shot at a Punchbowl service station on 30 October 2003.

  • Abdul Darwiche

    VICTIM

    Shot and killed outside a restaurant in Bass Hill on 14 March 2009; also charged and acquitted in earlier proceedings related to the Yanderra Street shooting.

  • Mohammed Fahda

    CONVICTED

    Convicted of the murder of Abdul Darwiche; sentenced to 14 years' imprisonment; appeal dismissed.

  • Samear Razzak

    ACQUITTED

    Acquitted of all charges related to the Mons Street shooting.

  • Mohamed Razzak

    CONVICTED

    Convicted in relation to the Mons Street shooting; sentenced to 13 years' imprisonment; some convictions later overturned on appeal, sentence unchanged.

  • Mervat Nemra

    VICTIM

    Killed in the Lawford Street shooting on 14 October 2003.

Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.

Places

South-west Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

-33.9173, 150.9987

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Common questions

What happened to the victim?
Between 2001 and 2009, a feud rooted in rival cannabis operations and marital breakdowns among three south-west Sydney families of Lebanese descent led to multiple shootings and killings, including the Lawford Street murders of Ziad Razzak and Mervat Nemra, and the murders of Ali Abdul Razzak, Ahmed Fahda and Abdul Darwiche.
Where did the crime happen?
South-west Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Who was convicted?
Ramzi Aouad (Convicted of the Lawford Street murders and originally convicted of Ahmed Fahda's murder; sentenced to three terms of life imprisonment; the Fahda murder conviction was overturned on appeal in 2011 and charges later dropped.), Adnan Darwiche (Convicted of the shooting of Bilal Razzak, the Yanderra Street shooting and the Lawford Street murders; sentenced to two terms of life imprisonment and 20 years; acquitted of the murder of Ali Abdul Razzak and of charges related to Ahmed Fahda's murder.), Naseam El-Zeyat (Convicted of the Lawford Street murders and originally convicted of Ahmed Fahda's murder; sentenced to three terms of life imprisonment; the Fahda murder conviction was overturned on appeal in 2011 and charges later dropped.), Abass Osman (Convicted of the Lawford Street murders; sentenced to 27 years' imprisonment, eligible for parole in 22 years.), Mohammed Fahda (Convicted of the murder of Abdul Darwiche; sentenced to 14 years' imprisonment; appeal dismissed.), and Mohamed Razzak (Convicted in relation to the Mons Street shooting; sentenced to 13 years' imprisonment; some convictions later overturned on appeal, sentence unchanged.).
What is the current status of the case?
Status: solved.
More cases in New South Wales

Sources

  1. ENCYCLOPEDICDarwiche–Razzak–Fahda family conflictWikipedia · 2026-07-07
  2. PRESSContemporaneous coverage — AustLIIAustLII · 2026-07-07
  3. PRESSContemporaneous coverage — The Sydney Morning HeraldThe Sydney Morning Herald · 2026-07-07

Record history

First published
JUL 07, 2026