CCTV footage of Giovanni Focarelli murder released as SA Police step up hunt for killer

POLICE have released CCTV footage of the shooting murder of the son of former gangland figure Vince Focarelli. Watch it here.

POLICE say an Adelaide bikie gang member is the key suspect in the “execution style” murder of gangland figure Giovanni Focarelli.

Major Crime detectives today released previously unseen CCTV footage of the shooting of Giovanni Focarelli and his father Vince.

Giovanni Focarelli was shot dead in an ambush at Dry Creek in January 2012, at the height of an underworld war between rival gangs.

Giovanni was shot and killed as he sat in the front passenger seat of a car driven by his father, Vince, that stopped on Flame Ave, Dry Creek, about 9pm on Sunday, January 29, 2012.

Vince was also shot four times during the attack but has refused point blank to co-operate with the murder investigation.

The footage shows a blue Ford sedan hire car, driven by Vince Focarelli, travelling down Flame Ave then performing a u-turn.

Seconds later, a person is seen getting out of the back seat then firing a volley of shots into the vehicle, which speeds away onto Churchill Rd North.

Detective Inspector Greg Hutchins said police had a key suspect who they believe ambushed the Focarellis seconds after getting out of the back seat.

“We believe the offender was in the car prior to the shooting occurring, he was seated in the back seat and has hopped out of the back seat and fired a number of shots into the car,” Insp Hutchins said.

“We believe we know who the suspect is, he is a strong suspect and has been told that he is a suspect and we’ve told his lawyer he is a suspect.”

Bleeding from four bullet wounds, Vince bundled his son into the back seat of a Ford sedan and started driving towards to Adelaide.

He flagged down a police patrol on Prospect Rd and directed them to his son’s lifeless body in the back seat.

Vince was taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital for treatment of his bullet wounds and remained there for several days.

Insp Hutchins said detectives were optimistic about making an arrest.

“We’re close. Obviously we would like a little bit more, but we will continue to work and work relentlessly to bring that person to justice, murders require a significant body of evidence,” he said.

“The general member of the public potentially won’t have information that will get us across the line, but there may be a person in the community who mixes in these organised crime type circles that may for whatever reason be able to provide us with information.”

Insp Hutchins said the suspect was an outlaw motorcycle gang who was “known to police” and was currently living free in Adelaide.

“All murder cases are difficult to solve but clearly cases such as this which involve OMCG do have added complexity because of their reluctance of those type of people to get involved or assist in any way whatsoever,” he said.

“It could be any sort of information that will help us build that big jigsaw puzzle as to what occurred in the hours prior or after.”

Vince Focarelli survived at least six attempts on his life from rival gangs before his son’s murder and is currently awaiting trial on assault charges with another son, Giuseppe Focarelli.

Insp Hutchins said police were treating the Giovanni Focarelli murder investigation like any other and said the community would not tolerate gangland-style killings.

“It’s an execution style murder, police are investigating it and we will do anything we can to bring the perpetrator before the court.”

Anyone with information can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. You can remain anonymous.