The Snitch: Macris and Ibrahim families reach peace agreement
When Viktoria Karida flew into Australia after her husband John Macris was murdered in Greece, the whispers around Sydney were whether her spouse’s past run-ins with the Ibrahim clan would cause issues. But it seems a peace deal has been reached.
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When former Playboy Playmate Viktoria Karida flew into Australia after her husband John Macris was murdered in Greece, the whispers around Sydney were whether her spouse’s past run-ins with the Ibrahim clan would cause issues.
But according to The Snitch’s sources, a peace agreement of sorts had already been reached between members of the Macris and Ibrahim clans. This comes as a bit of a surprise following the ugly business which started with Fadi Ibrahim being shot and almost killed in 2009.
After the shooting, brothers Fadi and Michael Ibrahim were charged and stood trial alongside underworld figure Rodney “Goldie” Atkinson accused of conspiring to murder John Macris in a mistaken revenge plot.
All three men were found not guilty by a jury in the Downing Centre District Court in 2012.
Our sources tell us that Michael Ibrahim has since been in contact with Macris’s brother Alex and the pair were on good terms.
This extended to Michael even calling Alex in 2017 to ask his advice and thoughts on a Bentley and another brand of luxury car, which police sources said may have been a Rolls Royce.
Macris said in the call that he owned both models, prompting Ibrahim to ask if he could go for a test drive so he could make up his mind on which one he wanted to buy, the source said.
Strange times indeed.
WHAT’S IN A NAME?
There’s a female magistrate who is about to front the NSW Supreme Court to have her conduct put under the microscope — and her identity will be revealed tomorrow.
The magistrate has been ordered to front the NSW Judicial Commission’s Conduct Division, which will sit in the Supreme Court from 10am on Monday for a five-day hearing.
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It will examine a complaint made against the magistrate — which relates to her ability and behaviour — and then issue a report to NSW Parliament recommending what (if any) action be taken. The most serious punishment would see the magistrate sacked.
The last time the process hit the headlines was when magistrates Jennifer Betts and Brian Maloney fronted NSW parliament to argue why they shouldn’t be sacked in 2011. Parliament eventually voted against getting rid of them.
The identity of the magistrate in this new case had been suppressed while she launched legal action to keep her name out of the headlines. But the NSW Court of Appeal ruled against her.
A temporary suppression order on the magistrate’s name was lifted on Thursday but all public listings have so far not included her name.
The NSW Judicial Commission also refused to reveal the magistrate’s identity despite the court’s ruling and the lifting of the suppression order.
YABBA-DABBA-DON’T
It’s the court case involving a rugby league star that insiders are calling “The Bam Bam Defence”.
It involves South Sydney Rabbitohs’ rising star Zane Musgrove, who was convicted on one count of malicious damage after he pleaded guilty to ripping a gate off a hinge in Zetland.
The charge stemmed from an incident where the court was told Musgrove damaged the gate when his girlfriend told him to leave at about 4am.
This came after he had been invited over to pick his girlfriend up but turned away when she was still in party mode.
Magistrate Megan Greenwood blasted the league star and said the incident had hallmarks of domestic violence before fining him $1100 and ordering he pay $500 to fix the gate.
Musgrove appealed and got off when the Downing Centre District Court Judge Gary Neilson accepted he was a professional athlete and simply didn’t know his own strength when handling the gate.
Musgrove’s lawyer Michael Bowe told Judge Neilson that his client could bench press 165kg. Judge Neilson overturned the conviction after finding Musgrove did not intend to damage the gate.
POLICE TO POLITICS
A senior NSW detective is eyeing off a transition to Parliament. Detective Inspector Darren Jameson has thrown his hat in the ring for Nationals preselection for the state seat of Coffs Harbour.
The Coffs Clarence Police District crime manager, who led the Sharon Edwards murder probe in 2015, has been working in a different role in recent months, a job he juggles with surf lifesaving and junior rugby coaching.
He would not respond to calls about the rumour but a reliable source said his name is on the list for the preselection decider on November 24. He will have to quit the cops if elected.
NEW YEAR’S BAIL
Ali Abbas, the criminal lawyer charged with being an accessory after the fact to the murder of teen Brayden Dillon, is short odds to remain behind bars until at least January.
Mr Abbas faced the NSW Supreme Court on Monday in the bail call-over lists in the hope of getting a date for a second bail application after he was refused bail in Central Local Court.
The news wasn’t good thanks to the time of year. It is not uncommon for the bail lists to be overflowing with accused trying to be released before Christmas.
The earliest date the registrar could offer Mr Abbas was in January.
“The Registrar offered Mr Abbas some dates in January and is yet to hear back,” a NSW Courts Media spokeswoman said.
COFFEE AND CROISSANTS
Which NSW barrister would only get out of bed to appear in court recently if the solicitor giving them the work agreed to a set of particularly diva-ish conditions?
The conditions, which were on top of the barrister’s usual fees, included a croissant, a black coffee and a lift to and from court. We’re told the barrister put in a good showing, so it might catch on.
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Originally published as The Snitch: Macris and Ibrahim families reach peace agreement
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