THE "very sad" case against a Sydney man charged with shooting dead a friend on a property near Quirindi has been adjourned.
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Adnan Al Youssef did not appear in Tamworth Local Court on Wednesday morning and has yet to front court again since he was granted bail in Sydney two days after the Boxing Day shooting.
The 41-year-old is accused of causing the death of 23-year-old Ali Wannous in Bundella between 10.15pm and 10.24pm on December 26 by discharging a firearm without regard to public safety, amounting to manslaughter.
Magistrate Julie Soars examined the papers and said it was "an unusual charge" and involved the "involuntary discharge" of the firearm.
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Agent solicitor Garry Johnston said "it's a very sad situation" and Youssef was excused from fronting court on Wednesday.
The court heard the case had yet to be taken over by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and police prosecutor Sergeant Rob Baillie said evidence in the brief had been served.
"We're just asking for that six weeks for charge certification," he said.
Mr Johnston again requested Youssef be excused from attending court unless there was "some sort of plea offer or charge negotiations".
Ms Soars continued Youssef's bail and adjourned the case until April.
Detectives allege Youssef fired a registered firearm while cleaning the gun on Boxing Day night.
Mr Wannous, who is also from Sydney’s south-west area, died at the scene.
It’s understood the pair were part of a group of eight people visiting the property at Coomoo Coomoo Creek Road on a pre-arranged hunting trip.
Youssef was given bail in a Sydney court on December 28, after posting $5000 surety. He also had to surrender his passport, must not approach any international point of departure, and must live in Yagoona.
At the time, the court heard Youssef was employed as a site foreman at a Sydney company and managed several employees.