Gunman recruited to kill Joe Antoun says slain gangster Pasquale Barbaro offered money for the contract killing

SLAIN gangland figure Pasquale Barbaro agreed to pay street gang Brothers 4 Life to kill a rival but when he did not produce the cash they took his black Lamborghini instead, it has been alleged at a murder trial.

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SLAIN gangland figure Pasquale Barbaro agreed to pay street gang Brothers 4 Life to kill a rival but when he did not produce the cash they took his black Lamborghini instead, it has been alleged at a murder trial.

The gunman who carried out the killing told the murder trial Barbaro and another man, Elias “Les” Elias, offered $200,000 to Brothers 4 Life Blacktown chapter boss Farhad Qaumi, 34, and his brother Mumtaz, 31, if they killed debt collector Joe Antoun.

The hitman, known only as Witness L, said the Qaumis ordered him to kill Mr Antoun and then described matter-of-factly how he shot the father of two at the front door of his Strathfield home while his family were inside.

Pasquale Barbaro offered money for the contract killing of Joe Antoun, a court heard. Picture: Instagram

Farhad and Mumtaz Qaumi are on trial for the alleged contract killing of Mr Antoun in December 16, 2013. Both have pleaded not guilty to murder.

Witness L, a former member of Brothers 4 Life, received a 60 per cent discount on his sentence for murdering Mr Antoun and other violent offences in exchange for giving evidence against the Qaumi brothers.

He is serving a non-parole period of 15 years and nine months.

Executed at home ... Joe Antoun.

Witness L told the court that one day Farhad and Mumtaz Qaumi came to his house to tell him they had a contract to kill Mr Antoun.

“Basically they came to my house ... they told me they got a contract for knocking this bloke,” Witness L said.

Witness L said Mumtaz told him they had been offered $200,000 to carry out the murder which would be paid “between Pasquale and Les”.

Farhad Qaumi and Pasquale Barbaro pictured on CCTV at The Star Casino.

In a strange twist Barbaro was shot dead by an unknown killer on November 14 just before his phone taps were due to be played at the murder trial.

Witness L described how on the night he shot Mr Antoun he pretended to be delivering a package.

Witness L said a “big guy with a bald head” answered the front door. He fitted the description he had been given for Mr Antoun.

CCTV footage of standover man Joe Antoun being shot dead.

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“So I pulled out the gun and I shot him,” he said.

Witness L said days after he killed Mr Antoun he met the Qaumi brothers outside The Star casino and they were driving a black Lamborghini.

He said he asked them whose car it was and they told him it belonged to Barbaro.

“(They said) We are waiting for him to pay up the contract because he hasn’t paid up the contract,” Witness L said.

Police sweep the Earlwood street where Barbaro was shot dead.

He also said the Qaumi’s had told him that they weren’t going to give the car back until Barbaro paid them.

The hitman also detailed the brutality of being a member of the Brothers 4 Life Blacktown chapter where Farhad was leader, Mumtaz was deputy and their younger brother Jamil was called the “enforcer” in charge of discipline.

He said each member had to pay $50 a week and disobeying an order would be met with vicious group bashings.

He described how Farhad Qaumi allegedly once ordered a member to be bashed by the group because he had not answered his phone.

The judge-alone trial before Justice Peter Hamill continues.

Shot dead ... Sydney underworld identity Pasquale Barbaro