An African killer has been allowed to plead guilty to a lesser charge than murder more than three years after he fatally shot an aspiring rapper in Melbourne.
Mustafa Alhassan, 21, faced the Supreme Court of Victoria on Wednesday where he pleaded guilty to homicide by firearm and handling stolen goods over the August 2021 killing of Chris Habiyakare, known as Lyr1cure7, in Sunshine West during a home invasion.
Alhassan and two African co-offenders broke into Habiyakare’s house armed with a rifle, a machete and a Taser, intending to steal $1 million the victim was rumoured to have in his safe. It was later found to contain $41,000 in cash, cannabis and methamphetamine.
During the botched robbery Alhassan shot 24-year-old Habiyakare in the chest and fled the scene. He was arrested seven months later, and it was later discovered that while on the run he was planning to source a gun to carry out another armed robbery.
On Wednesday Alhassan was allowed to plead guilty to the homicide by firearm charge after an hour-long debate, 7 News reported.
Defence barrister Karen Argiropoulos SC said her client did not intend to kill Habiyakare, and did not expect him to be home, although Justice Christopher Beale was unconvinced about the latter claim.
“If you were expecting the house to be unoccupied, why would you go in armed to the teeth?” he asked.
Justice Beale, who will sentence Alhassan at a later date, said he was “far from persuaded” that the killer was remorseful, highlighting his actions after the shooting and stating that the offender “wanted to become a gangster”.
“He’s fully aware that he has shot and killed someone, he nonetheless agrees to participate in some way in relation to a further home invasion,” Justice Beale said, according to the Australian Associated Press.
“With all of that, how am I going to find that he’s genuinely remorseful?”
The homicide by firearm charge carries a maximum penalty of 25 years, but the standard sentence is 13 and Justice Beale said the guilty plea would result in a significant reduction.
Habiyakare’s father said in a statement read to the court that he feels “incomplete, weak and incompetent as a father because I’m constantly reminded I should’ve protected my son at all costs”.
He said the family had used their savings to build a centre named after his son in their home country of Burundi.
Alhassan was remanded in custody until his sentencing.
Header image: Left, Mustafa Alhassan entering court (7 News). Right, Chris Habiyakare (Instagram).
