Love Machine murder accused is the son of senior underworld figure
The teenager charged with the drive-by murder of two men outside Melbourne nightclub Love Machine is the son of prominent underworld figure Nabil Moughnieh.
Jacob Elliott, 18, wept in court on Monday afternoon as police accused him of firing the gunshots that killed security guard Aaron Osmani and patron Richard Arow outside the Prahran nightclub on April 14.
Mr Elliott is one of the sons of Mr Moughnieh, formerly known as Nabil Maghnie, who has links to the Comanchero bikie gang.
Mr Moughnieh, who once drove himself to hospital in a critical condition after being shot in the head, fronted court as recently as June 27 over unrelated allegations he was speeding at more than 200km/h when he was involved in a crash last month.
Mr Moughnieh, 43, is also under investigation in connection to the Love Machine shooting.
His son appeared anxious in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday when he waved to about 10 family members. He stands accused of the murder of the two men and the attempted murder of three other people.
Each of the murder charges carries a 25-year prison sentence.
The teenager was arrested in Southbank on Monday morning following a raid on a home in Melbourne's north.
Mr Elliot's lawyer, Philip Dunn, QC, asked that images of Mr Elliott's supporters and home be suppressed for their own safety while "feelings are running a bit hot".
"They are innocent bystanders in all of this," Mr Dunn said.
Mr Elliott's arrest on Sunday came a day after Moussa Hamka, 25, faced Melbourne Magistrates Court charged with being an accessory after the fact to murder over the nightclub shooting.
Several weeks ago, the families of the two victims pleaded for those responsible to hand themselves in.
Mr Arow's girlfriend, who was on the street outside the club when it was sprayed with bullets, remembered him as the "strongest man with the softest heart".
More to come.