Comanchero bikies jailed for Mitat Rasimi murder

Two Comanchero bikies, Laiseni Kakato and Richard Ene, have been jailed for life for the 2019 shooting murder of former underworld figure Mitat Rasimi.

Mitat Rasimi was found dead with gunshot wounds after his car hit a pole on Dawn Ave, Dandenong. Picture: Supplied

Two Comanchero bikies labelled by a judge as “cowardly men” who were involved in the “brutal” and “callous” shooting of former underworld figure Mitat Rasimi have been jailed for life.

But Supreme Court judge Andrew Tinney on Tuesday gave Laiseni Kakato and Richard Ene a glimmer of hope of a life after prison, setting a non-parole period of 28 years.

The pair were found guilty by a jury of murdering Mr Rasimi, 51, over a $200,000 debt from a development deal gone wrong following a lengthy trial last year.

Mr Rasimi was shot four times to the torso in a hail of bullets as he drove along Dawn Ave in Dandenong, just metres from his home, about 9.38pm on March 3, 2019.

Justice Tinney said he was satisfied Ene, now 30, was the driver of the stolen orange Ford Ranger ute used in the crime, while Kakato, 32, sitting in the passenger seat armed with a .22-calibre handgun was the shooter.

He said the men were awarded a prestigious Comos patch for their involvement in the murder at a club patch party a fortnight later.

Mitat Rasimi was shot four times in the torso just metres from his home. Picture: Supplied

“You willingly accepted the kudos – you show no remorse,” he said.

The experienced judge said there was no evidence the men had renounced their allegiance with the bikie gang, and that they would remain a danger to the community while that commitment remained.

Justice Tinney refuted defence submissions that the shooting did not expose the public to risk of harm.

“The risk of a pedestrian or an occupant of a house being struck by a bullet was far from a remote one,” he said.

The court heard the heavily-tattooed men followed Mr Rasimi in his Peugeot, pulling up beside it and blasting shots through the driver’s side door, killing him.

When Kakato told Ene to “drive” after pulling the trigger, the driver replied, “No, finish it. Empty the clip”, resulting in more shots being fired.

Justice Tinney said Mr Rasimi was “an entirely blameless and innocent person whose violent death was so callous and unwarranted almost to defy belief”.

Mr Rasimi was killed “for no better reason” than he was being used as a vehicle to send a message by “a group of heartless and cowardly men”, he said.

The motive, Justice Tinney said, was to reinforce and re-enhance the criminal reputation of the outlaw motorcycle gang, who had felt disrespected when a man known to Mr Rasimi refused to pay the debt.

Richard Ene has been jailed for life over the shooting of former underworld figure Mitat Rasimi. Picture: X

They had initially targeted that man, planning to seriously injure him, but when he could not be found, they turned their sights on Mr Rasimi.

“Your crime ended the life of a man who was only 51 – you took him away from his wife and their four young children,” Mr Tinney told the bikies.

He said media reports detailing Mr Rasimi’s former underworld connections, which include that he was once part of Tony Mokbel’s drug empire, had no bearing on the crime.

A third Comanchero, who the Herald Sun has chosen not to name as he is facing trial on further alleged offending, was also jailed for life, but given a non-parole period of 26 years, over his involvement.

He had been at meetings where the kill plot was discussed and organised the stolen Ranger to be used in the crime.

“The murder of Mr Rasimi was very much a team effort,” Justice Tinney said.

Originally published as Comanchero bikies jailed for Mitat Rasimi murder