Mick Hawi killing: Notorious bikie had recent heated argument with Comanchero rival
IN the weeks before his brazen assassination outside a Sydney gym yesterday notorious bikie Mahmoud “Mick” Hawi had fought with exiled Comanchero rival Mark Buddle.
NSW
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IN the weeks before his brazen assassination outside a Sydney gym, notorious bikie Mahmoud “Mick” Hawi had fought with exiled Comanchero rival Mark Buddle.
The 37-year-old former national Comanchero president, who remained a major powerbroker in the outlaw bikie club since his release from jail in 2015, had the telephone “blow-up” over Buddle’s meddling in the club, sources said.
Buddle, who is overseas, is wanted for questioning over the fatal shooting of Sydney security guard Gary Allibon in 2010.
But late last year, the 32-year-old texted Sydney Comanchero members, telling them: “I’m the f...ing commander of the world.”
Hawi was shot at close range, as many as 12 times, through the window of his black Mercedes yesterday in a brazen assassination outside the Fitness First in Rockdale, southern Sydney.
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The professional hit came at 12.10pm, just moments after the fitness fanatic had got into the driver’s seat. He did not have time to start the vehicle’s engine.
Paramedics fought to save the life of the father-of-two at the scene but he died later in St George Hospital.
The ruthless Buddle, 32, appointed himself as national Comanchero president when Hawi was arrested after the fatal Sydney Airport brawl with Hells Angels in 2009.
He was given 21 years jail for his role in the killing of Hells Angels associate Anthony Zervas.
But the murder conviction was quashed in 2014. Underworld sources said yesterday the pair had a “massive blow-up” about six weeks ago and police confirmed they knew there was tension between the two.
“But in reality Buddle will be just one of many people and avenues of investigation,” a senior officer said.
Police were last night still hunting for the assassin and his getaway driver, with CCTV footage revealing them fleeing the scene.
The pair quickly dumped the getaway car, leaving it burnt out just a kilometre away in the quiet suburban street of Chandler St.
The brazen attack was planned to target Hawi where the killer knew they could get to him.
He used the gym daily and rather than leave his 4WD in the carpark he simply left it at the entrance, knowing no one would dare challenge him.
Before his killing he had spent an hour with his personal trainer, giving the gunman plenty of time make sure everything was in place.
Gym user Victor Nascmanto walked past Hawi as the infamous underworld figure chatted to a woman near reception — 30 seconds later he heard the hail of bullets outside.
“When I pass through the guy (Hawi) he say, ‘Hey’, I say ‘Hey man, how are ya?,” Mr Nascmanto, 34, said. “I start my workout and I just heard the shots. Bang, bang, bang. I count 12 shots ... I didn’t see (the shooters). He was relaxed, just talking to the girl.”
Both the passenger’s side of the vehicle and the window of the gym were peppered with bullets.
Mr Nascmanto said he had heard that Hawi was hit a number of times in the chest by what appeared to be a cool gunman.
“The (witnesses) say he was so relaxed, just ... the gun and bang, bang, bang,” Mr Nascmanto said.
“I just saw something in the chest, that’s all. There is some shot in the car and there is some shot in the (window) of the gym. I saw four or five in the car and then in the (window) four or five more.”
Fitness First staff saw Hawi slumped in the driver’s seat of his 4WD and immediately ordered people to the back of the building.
When paramedics arrived to treat the stricken bikie, Mr Nascmanto shot video of the scene through the bullet-shattered window.
“He made plenty of enemies,” one senior police officer said yesterday.
NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Mal Lanyon said officers would be working to put a lid on any further outbreaks of related violence — including any retaliation. “
This was a planned and targeted attack,” he said.
“This is something that we will not tolerate because of the potential for an innocent member of the public to be harmed.
“One of the things that we will focus on ... is ensuring we put sufficient resources out there to prevent any retribution that may occur as a result of his shooting. Obviously he has a history with that group (Comanchero) and that’s something we will explore.”
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