Lucky Gattellari fails in bid to secure parole for role in Michael McGurk murder
FORTUNATO “Lucky” Gattellari, the star witness in the Ron Medich murder trial, begged the State Parole Authority to release him in an emotional letter where he spoke of going “to hell and back” while serving time for his role in the killing of Michael McGurk.
NSW
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
ONE-TIME boxer and former Qantas steward Fortunato “Lucky” Gattellari begged the State Parole Authority to release him from jail in an emotional letter where he spoke of going “to hell and back”.
But his pleas fell of deaf ears this afternoon, with the parole board upholding their decision to refuse his parole because of “outstanding charges” relating to an alleged extortion.
Gattellari was first eligible for parole on April 12 after serving a minimum 7½-year sentence for his role in organising the 2009 contract killing of Michael McGurk.
MORE
MURDER, MILLIONS AND MICHAEL MCGURK
MEDICH: FROM MILLIONAIRE VIEW TO PRISON CELL
KEY PLAYERS IN MURDER OF MICHAEL MCGURK
He was given the 60 per cent discount on his sentence in exchange for giving evidence against Ron Medich who was found guilty of masterminding McGurk’s murder in April this year.
“Your Honour let me go home to be with my family, I am no danger or Thret [sic] to any one and I will live up to all my obligations as I have done in all these matters,” Gattellari wrote in a letter that was given to the board during today’s hearing.
“I went to hell and back spending months on the stand for the Crown and on Cross examination.”
But the parole board said they would not grant his release until the finalisation of charges in which police allege Gattellari conspired to extort millions of dollars from Medich in return for changing his evidence.
Upon hearing the decision, Gattellari appeared to wipe tears away before cradling his head in his hands.
During today’s 45-minute public review hearing, Gattellari’s barrister Peter Godkin told the board that Gattellari would contest the extortion charges and expected to rely on “the testimony of two senior officers who he was assisting” at the time.
Mr Godkin — along with solicitor Yega Muthu — also argued Gattellari had spent the past 7½ years assisting police, the office of the director of public prosecutions and the ICAC.
“Ron Medich is behind bars because of the testimony of Lucky Gattellari,” Mr Godkin said.
“Mr Gattellari has done everything he can possibly do to assist and to make amends for that terrible, terrible, terrible decision that resulted in that violent act in front of the poor 9-year-old boy who will be traumatised for the rest of his life,” he said.
“Mr Gattellari understands the gravity of what he did — that is part of the reason why he has assisted the Crown, the DPP and assisted ICAC.”
Mr Godkin also said his client’s incarceration and the constant travel to court cases had been “doubly difficult” because of his extreme claustrophobia and anxiety.
The details of Gattellari’s parole hearing would never have been made public were it not for the man himself.
After the State Parole Authority tried to close the court journalists, Gattellari told his barrister Peter Godkin that we wanted media to stay.
“Mr Gattellari opposes a closed court — the reason why is that for some eight years this matters has been widely published,” Mr Godkin told parole board.
“It is obviously an issue and a topic which has interest to the Australian public and Mr Gattellari’s instructions are that the media should be here to report what happens today,” he said.
Gatterllari will remain in custody until his NSW District Court trial in October.
Medich will face a sentencing hearing this Thursday in the NSW Supreme Court.