Mark Caleo to stand trial over murder of wife Rita and brother-in-law Michael Chye

SYDNEY man Mark Caleo (pictured) has been committed to stand trial over the murders of his wife Rita Caleo and her brother Michael Chye.

Mark Caleo will face a trial for the two murders.

ACCUSED of the brutal murder of his former sister-in-law, a Sydney man breathed a huge sigh of relief yesterday as he walked free from court.

Gerard Caleo left with half a smile on his face, saying it was a “bittersweet day”, but it was a very different story for his brother Mark, who has been committed to stand trial over the slaying of his ex-wife Rita Caleo and her brother Michael Chye.

It was a bittersweet day for Gerard Caleo, who had all charges against him dropped, but who saw his brother Mark committed to a double murder trial.

Dr Chye, 36, was shot three times as he drove into the garage of his Woollahra home in the eastern suburbs in October 1989.

Mrs Caleo, 39, was stabbed to death in her Double Bay unit in August 1990.

It’s alleged Mark Caleo arranged to have Dr Chye murdered to avoid litigation over a failed property transaction and then had his wife killed to cover up her knowledge of the murder.

The man who Mark Caleo allegedly hired to kill his wife, Alani Afu, was also committed to trial.

Rita Caleo, who was murdered in 1990, allegedly because she knew of her husband’s guilt in the murder of her brother. Picture: Supplied

Sydney doctor Michael Chye, who was shot and killed in the garage of his Woollahra home in 1989. Picture: Supplied

Gerard Caleo was alleged to have driven Afu to carry out the hit on Mrs Caleo, and was charged with murder, soliciting to murder and being an accessory to the murder.

But the court heard that the key witness against him had given 11 different versions of the events and had admitted to telling lies to save himself from prosecution.

Magistrate John Andrews said, in the circumstances, he was discharging Gerard Caleo.

“I should never have been here in the beginning; however, I am thankful that now it is over, I can try and get back on with my life,” Gerard Caleo said.

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Mr Andrews said Mark Caleo’s ex-wife Yuko Okamoto had given evidence he had told her he arranged to have a hitman murder Dr Chye because his former brother-in-law had threatened to kill his children.

Ms Okamoto said her husband told her he had paid the hitman $50,000, told him about Dr Chye’s garage door, and said that he had to “move fast and be a good shot”, according to Mr Andrews.

The magistrate said there was evidence Mark Caleo’s relationship with his wife had broken down and he was having an affair with a woman named Janice Yap. He is charged with two counts of murder and two counts of soliciting murder.

“I am of the view that there is evidence capable of satisfying a jury ... that the accused Mark Caleo has committed an indictable offence,” Mr Andrews said.

Mark Caleo maintained his innocence as he left court on bail.

“The magistrate’s just doing his job, but once the evidence comes out it will all be clear,” he said.

Mark Caleo and Afu are due to face the NSW Supreme Court in May.