Slain Sydney gangster John Macris’s father speaks out after murder verdict
The father of former Sydney underworld figure John Macris has spoken after two Bulgarian brothers were found guilty of his son’s murder, as the court investigates a witness for perjury.
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Exclusive: John Macris’ father has stayed silent after his son’s killers were found guilty in Greece, as the court investigates a witness for perjury.
Stelios Macris was devastated at the former Sydney underworld figure’s murder.
But he told News Corp Australia on Tuesday that he did not want to talk about the guilty verdict handed down to two hitmen in Greece.
“I’ve got nothing to say, you spoke to my daughter-in-law, thanks very much, goodbye,” he said, referring to John’s widow Viktoria Karida.
Stelios Macris, who is in his 80s, was understood to be financially supporting Ms Karida and her two children Alexandra and Achilles in Greece.
They are living in a hilltop mansion Voula, near Athens, with sweeping ocean views and a pool.
Ms Karida, who was a reality TV star and former Playboy model, had put the home on the market for $2.4 million.
But Stelios and his family, sources said, was helping to pay the bills, following John’s wishes that his children were raised in Greece.
WIDOW OF SLAIN SYDNEY GANGSTER’S TEARY RESPONSE TO VERDICT
A Greek court sentenced Yuliyanov J. Raychev Serafim to life in jail for the execution murder of John Macris.
Life carries a 16-year sentence in Greece, plus he was also given two years for carrying a gun, bringing his total jail time to 18 years.
His brother Milen Raychev was sentenced to 10 years jail but was likely to only serve three years with parole.
The brothers’ lawyer has indicated he will appeal, but a hearing would be up to two years away.
Viktoria Karida said that she was pleased with the decisions, as she thanked her lawyer.
She told News Corp Australia through tears: “My husband who sees and listens to everything from the sky. He is satisfied now and so am I.”
Ms Karida, a model and reality TV star, was wearing a Christian Dior blouse, and black mules to the court hearing, and was carrying a Celine bag.
Serafim’s wife Hazel was devastated and the hitmen’s mother Violeta was struggling after the sentences were handed down.
Hazel, who did not have access to a translator, had black circles under her eyes and found it difficult to understand what had happened.
BROTHERS FOUND GUILTY OF JOHN MACRIS’ GANGSTER MURDER
John Macris’ killers were found guilty of his execution murder, a Greek court heard.
Bulgarian brothers Yuliyanov J. Raychev Serafim and Milen Raychev were given the verdict at 8.30pm AEST with their mother in tears in the courtroom.
Three judges and four jury members found that the brothers were guilty of the murder of Macris, who was gunned down outside his home in October 2018.
Serafim was found to have pulled the trigger, while Milen was an accessory to the murder.
Viktoria Karida said outside court that she welcomed the verdict.
“I’m satisfied,” she said.
Earlier, the mother of the two men found guilty, said they were “very good gentlemen”.
And she claimed that she knew they were innocent because “their eyes tell everything”.
The Bulgarian brothers, who denied the charges, were accused of following Macris for 19 days before he was executed outside his home in Voula when he was in his car.
The hit was caught on CCTV.
Police claimed to have found clothes matching those in the footage in Serafim’s hotel room, along with a receipt, and he had rented a car in his own name.
He had fled Greece the day after the October 31, 2018, murder but had returned in April 2019 where he was arrested with police suspecting he was planning another hit.
But their mother, who asked for her name not to be published, told News Corp Australia that her boys were “gentlemen” and offered her sympathy to Macris’ widow Viktoria Karida, a former Playboy model.
“I’m very sorry about the lady, I’m sorry for her loss, but my kids [are] not that kind of persons,” she said in broken English.
“My kids is very good gentlemen. I don’t believe that they do that kind of thing to kill someone.
“And they have all families and kids. They never can do that kind of things, they have respect for the people.”
The hit has been linked by authorities to a Canadian branch of the notorious Outlaws motorcycle gang.
Serafim has a tattoo of the club’s insignia on his left arm, according to photographs taken at his arrest.
Macris, 46, had left Sydney in 2013 and set up a new life in Athens where he ran a security business that had gained lucrative government contracts.
Serafim, who is in his 30s, had links to Australian crime figures in Canada and two brothers, who had different names but similar descriptions, were charged with kidnapping, robbery and extortion there in 2011.
Their mother, who lives in Canada, said she had been staying in Bulgaria to help look after her grandchildren.
“You know like, I don’t know what I can say more than that I believe my kids, I am the mother, I have the feeling you know, like when I look at my kids I know they are telling the truth,” she said.
“Their eyes tell everything.
“My grandchildren, the older one, she’s in Canada but the small ones are in Bulgaria
“That’s all I can say now, I just, that’s all I can say.”
She then asked if Macris had children with Ms Karida.
“I just wanted to say again I’m very sorry for the lady, did she have kids too?” she said.
Macris had two children with Ms Karida, Alexandra and Achilles, who found out how their father died by watching the execution clip on YouTube after hearing their friends talk at school.
Serafim, who has a two-year old son and a Bulgarian wife, said at a court hearing in July: “I am nothing (but) innocent I have nothing to do with Macris’ murder. I believe in the Greek justice.”
Raychev, who has a 14-year-old son, said: “I am innocent, I have nothing to do with the murder.”
A Greek court heard that a Nissan Pulsar that the brothers had rented was seen on CCTV footage passing Macris’ house six times on the days before the shooting.
They were also spotted in the same cafe where Macris had been eating.
Macris had been carrying a knife when he was shot, but a gun was found inside his home, which had a double garage and sophisticated security but he instead parked in the street.
The court heard the brothers had cleaned the rental car before it was returned on November 1, 2018.
The Bulgarians’ high-profile Greek lawyer Alexandros Lykourezos had argued that professional hit men would not use their own names to rent a car to be used in a killing.
He also questioned whether Macris was sending money back to Australia in the lead up to his death.
The case is expected to begin at 8pm AEST today and run for several hours.
Originally published as Slain Sydney gangster John Macris’s father speaks out after murder verdict