Jawad Al Hussein has been acquitted of manslaughter charges relating to the drowning of two friends, Ghosn Ghosn and Bob Chahine, after an incident on October 31, 2022. The 43-year-old was driving his ute with Ghosn and Chahine on the back when he attempted to navigate through flooded waters, which ultimately led to their tragic deaths. A jury found Al Hussein not guilty after a week-long trial at Goulburn District Court, determining that his actions constituted an error of judgment rather than criminal negligence.
Both victims were unable to swim and fell or jumped from the vehicle as it was swept away, with their bodies found days later, up to two kilometres from the site. While Al Hussein and a third occupant escaped to safety, he reportedly made frantic calls for help after realising his friends were missing. Defence counsel argued that everyone makes mistakes, emphasising that this incident arose from a brief lapse in judgment.
Al Hussein still faces lesser charges of negligent driving occasioning death, which were not included in the trial. The group had been attempting to reach a nearby farm when the tragic events unfolded. Chahine’s widow recounted a call with her husband just before the incident, highlighting the suddenness of the tragedy.