Ron Medich to be sentenced for murder
MILLIONAIRE Ron Medich will face a sentence hearing for the contract murder of a hated business enemy, where he will be forced to listen to the words of his victims.
NSW
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MILLIONAIRE Ron Medich will face a sentence hearing in May after being found guilty of directing the 2009 contract murder of a hated business enemy and intimidating his widow.
The 70-year-old property developer was found guilty on Monday of murdering his former business partner Michael McGurk and subsequently intimidating Kimberley McGurk.
The NSW Supreme Court jury accepted the evidence of his former confidant, Lucky Gattellari, who said Medich masterminded and financed the shooting of the 45-year-old wheeler and dealer.
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He was gunned down outside his Sydney home in September 2009 after he and Medich had become embroiled in ongoing and protracted legal battles involving millions of dollars.
Gattellari testified that Medich said he had been made a “laughing stock in the eastern suburbs”, that Mr McGurk was ruining his reputation, and he wanted Gattellari to find someone “to take care of this guy”.
Gattellari said he asked Medich if he was sure about the murder, saying “there’s no going back”, and he replied: “I am sure. I want him done.” Justice Geoffrey Bellew on Friday set Medich’s sentence hearing down for May 31. Prosecutor Sharon Harris expects four or five victim impact statements will be read out.
The judge asked the parties to prepare written submissions including arguments on what factual findings he should make.
“Obviously the jury’s verdicts reflect a general acceptance of Mr Gattellari’s evidence as to the essential aspects of each of the offences,” he said. “But there was obviously evidence given by Mr Gattellari, and other witnesses, for example, about the utterances alleged to have been made by the offender.” Justice Bellew also asked for submissions on parity issues relating to those already sentenced for their roles in the murder.
Gattellari in May 2013 was sentenced to at least seven years and six months in jail after admitting organising the murder. He’d received a 60 per cent discount for his guilty plea and helping authorities.
His driver, Senad Kaminic, was sentenced to at least two years and six months after pleading guilty to being an accessory after the fact. That was after receiving a 50 per cent discount.
In August 2013, Haissam Safetli - who the Crown said was “likely” to have been the shooter - was jailed for at least seven years after pleading guilty to murder and intimidation.