Ron Medich trial: Gattellari says Rogerson and McNamara involved in scheme to get Medich’s money
A WITNESS at the murder trial of Ron Medich says he recruited Roger Rogerson and Glen McNamara to try to extort millions from the property developer.
NSW
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A STAR witness at the murder trial of Ron Medich has given explosive testimony that he recruited infamous cops turned killers Roger Rogerson and Glen McNamara to try to extort millions of dollars from the property developer.
Rollover witness Fortunato “Lucky” Gattellari admitted under cross-examination that Rogerson, 76, and McNamara, 57, were involved in a plan to get millions out of Medich, who is on trial for the murder of his former business partner Michael McGurk.
Gattellari, who pleaded guilty and was imprisoned for his role in the McGurk killing, said the initial plan was to get Medich to pay him $10 million before he gave evidence against him at a committal hearing followed by an additional $15 million afterwards.
“Roger Rogerson was going to get an offer to the Medich camp, that for a certain amount of money I could be got at to not give evidence,” Gattellari told defence barrister Winston Terracini SC in a startling twist to the murder trial.
Gattellari confirmed he got in contact with the notorious Rogerson and McNamara through his cellmate in Cooma Prison, drug trafficker Shayne Hatfield.
He noted in his diary their visits to Cooma prison, in southern NSW.
“Rogerson and McNamara kept coming back with different stories, different amounts and different methods,” Mr Gattellari explained.
Gattellari was charged in December with two counts of conspiracy to defraud Medich. He has not entered a plea.
In another shocking allegation Gattellari said police knew he was plotting to extort Medich and approved it. But under cross-examination he admitted he never received written authority from police nor could he name any officer who gave him permission to go ahead with the plan.
“You made up the so called approval (from police) to convince … others to act on your behalf so they would think they would have some kind of protection,” Mr Terracini said.
“Incorrect,” Gattellari replied..
Rogerson and McNamara were sentenced last year to life in prison for the murder of 20-year-old student Jamie Gao during a drug deal.
Medich has pleaded not guilty to ordering the murder of Mr McGurk outside his home at Cremorne in 2009.
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