A northern suburbs man has been sentenced to three years’ jail for an armed home invasion in St Albans that left a woman begging for her life.
Omar Khaoula, who went to school in Campbellfield and Roxburgh Park, pleaded guilty to five charges, including aggravated burglary, after breaking into a house in February this year and threatening the mother of his former boss.
The County Court last month heard the 23-year-old began working as an apprentice carpenter with Brendan Cefai in January this year.
After the pair fell out, Khaoula broke into the house of Mr Cefai’s 56-year-old mother about 2.15pm on February 2.
Khaoula, who was wearing a balaclava and carrying a gun, confronted the woman.
The court heard that when she screamed: “Don’t kill me, don’t kill me, please”, he replied: “I won’t kill you if you don’t do anything stupid”.
Shaking the firearm in front of Mrs Cefai, he added: “Your son slept with my girlfriend and made her pregnant. I’m going to kill your son. Ring your son now, tell him the cops are here, so he comes and I will kill him.”
Khaoula took the CCTV hard drive from the lounge room and left.
He was arrested the following morning.
Justice Elizabeth Pullen said Khaoula’s actions had changed Mrs Cefai’s life forever.
“The victim of your offending has suffered considerably,” she said. “She said, on February 2, 2015, her life changed forever.
“She found herself begging for her life, and fearing for her son’s life. She now suffers with constant anxiety.
“A noise or dog barking causes her to shake and her heart to palpitate.”
Khaoula will be eligible for parole in 18 months.
