Police reveal violent gang behind drug rip-off cold case murder

Decorated former soldier Jeffrey Tun Tin and wife Julie pleaded with their son James to stop growing cannabis in his garden shed. They feared not only for his health, but also that the illegal practice would place him in danger. Tragically, they were right.

Julie and Jeffrey Tun Tin with a photo of murdered son, James. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

• 2011: Six men suspects in murder of Paralowie man James Tun Tin
• 2013: Appeal to mystery person to come forward in Tun Tin murder

For more than a year Jeffrey and Julie Tun Tin pleaded with their son James to stop growing cannabis in his garden shed.

The decorated former soldier and his wife feared not only for James’ health, but also that the illegal practice would place him in danger.

Tragically, they were right.

In April 2011, James Tun Tin became yet another victim in South Australia’s escalating drug culture when he was gunned down during a well-planned drug rip-off.

James Tun Tin, 37, was shot at point blank range in the backyard of his Paralowie home when he disturbed a group of Aboriginal men who were breaking into his shed to steal his cannabis plants.

James lost his life over just two cannabis plants.

“We spoke to him about it lots of times,” a devastated Mrs Tun Tin said.

“We would ask him: ‘why do you have to grow it and use it, you have everything you want, why do you need it?’’

Major Crime detectives have four suspects in the murder of James Tun Tin.

The northern suburbs men are well known to police and have multiple convictions for serious crimes ranging from rape and assaults to home invasions and larceny.

Alarmingly, they are known to have been involved in drug rip-offs before the incident that claimed the life of James Tun Tin — and have continued the practice since.

Detectives suspect many such incidents are never reported.

Murder victim James Tun Tin, a red Hyundai sedan and his Paralowie home where he was shot dead in the early hours of April 20, 2011. Picture: SA Police

Major Crime case officer detective Brevet Sergeant Mat Bengel said each of the suspects — two aged over 40, one in his mid-30s and one younger man — have refused to co-operate.

Detectives have clear CCTV images of a key suspect who was captured by a security camera while he was conducting recognisance on Mr Tun Tin’s Gerrard Ave home the night before the drug rip-off.

“Initially we believed six people may have been involved, but we now believe only four Aboriginal men were involved,’’ Det. Bvt Sgt Bengel said.

“They are transient, they have been known to do these drug rip-offs all over the place.

“We believe this instance was opportunistic.

The property was identified as a potential target the night before.

“This can be as simple as them walking the streets and smelling the cannabis and then observing the premises for signs of a crop, such as exhaust fan noise coming from windows and sheds.’’

Like thousands of others who illegally grow cannabis, James Tun Tin was aware of the risks associated with growing cannabis — not just from police. He had installed CCTV cameras and became aware his crop had potentially been discovered early on April 19 when a hooded man was filmed in his backyard.

Unbeknown to the offenders, he then installed crude fishing line trip wires that rattled empty cans to alert him to the presence of any intruder.

Detectives believe it was just after midnight on April 20 when James became aware there were intruders attempting to break into his shed. Tragically, the trip wires had done their job. When he confronted the men, who were wearing masks under their hoodies, they had just levered the handle off the shed door.

James Tun Tin was blasted in the upper body with a sawn-off shotgun. He lay there for almost six hours until a friend arrived to pick him up for work and discovered his body.

Detectives believe the four men left the scene in a watermelon coloured Hyundai. The vehicle, which had been borrowed from an associate of one of the suspects, was found burnt out at Thompson’s Beach several days later.

The men are believed to have left Thompson’s Beach in a silver statesman sedan, which belonged to one of the suspects.

Det. Bvt Sgt Bengel said nine days after the incident the number plates of the Hyundai — VUK298 — were handed in at Salisbury police station by an unknown woman who said she had found them on the side of the road.

“We would like this person, whom we believe was not involved in any way, to contact us,’’ he said.

“We need to know precisely where she found the plates as this may lead us to other valuable evidence in the case. It is important to the case.’’

While detectives have had some assistance from within the Aboriginal community, they believe there are many people who have knowledge of the incident and could assist “if they chose to.’’

“There is a lot of talk amongst the Aboriginal community, but because of these relationships they are loath to come forward, they are very cautious’’ Det. Bvt Sgt Bengel said.

Just like the investigating detectives, Jeffrey and Julie Tun Tin believe they know who killed their son.

In fact, it was through Mr Tun Tin’s own detective work they discovered this.

Since James’ death Mr Tun Tin, 70 - who served in the Australian Army for 27 years and completed two tours of Vietnam - has been active in alerting his community who he believes killed his son.

He has placed more than a thousand flyers on Stobie poles naming the prime suspect — complete with the image from the CCTV captured the night before the shooting.

His efforts resulted in two of the suspects shifting from the northern suburbs because he had “outed’ them.

On several occasions the retired Sergeant Major has confronted one of them. He readily admits in the first few years after his son’s death he became “obsessed with the situation.’’

“One day I was putting up a poster and I got caught by the guy and his family. He came over and took it down and tore it up,’’ he said.

The pair last saw James the night before he was killed. Both he and their younger son Adam had dinner at their Parafield Gardens home — their favourite spaghetti bolognese — but James ate little because he was stressed about the intruder he knew was stalking his cannabis plants.

“I was a little upset with him, but later I found out why,’’ Mrs Tun Tin, 68, said.

Julie and Jeffrey Tun Tin at their home in Parafield Gardens. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

They described James as a typical teenager.

He was good at school until he became bored, had lots of mates and grew to “love his beer.’’ He also loved car racing, fishing and going on shooting trips to Burra once the family settled in Adelaide.

He lived at home until his mid-30s when his parents helped him purchase his Paralowie home that he enjoyed renovating. He worked at car seat manufacturing company Futuris for more than a decade. He had one son, Corey, who was aged 18 when James was killed.

Mrs Tun Tin said she wanted justice for James and would like to confront those responsible once they have faced court.

“I want to be able to say ‘why did you look at my son and then shoot him?’,’’ she said.

“There were four of you, why didn’t you hold him, hit him or tie him up, you had so many options but you took that choice to shoot him.

“That gets me so angry and my hatred for them is getting worse every year. I shake when I come face-to-face with them.

“Losing James will never be over, but I want to see some justice before I die.’’

Mr Tun Tin is appealing to those involved or who may have knowledge of the case to speak to police.

“I am told they are a religious group, their family. I would say if that is the case then it is time to come forward,’’ he said.

A reward of up to $200,000 is available for anyone who provides information that leads to a conviction in the case.