Unsolved gangland hits that rocked Sydney

ANY homicide detective will tell you gangland murders are the hardest to solve. Sydney detectives have at least 18 unsolved murders or suspected murders — many of them cold-blooded execution-style killings — among their open files.

ANY homicide detective will tell you that gangland murders are the hardest to solve.

Many of the murders over the past few years have been carried out by contract killers who leave very little evidence behind which, coupled with the “wall of silence’’ of the criminal code, makes investigations almost impossible.

CRIME BOSS AND YOUNG HITMAN BEHIND SIX MURDERS

Some are solved when an informant or a desperate criminal locked up for another crime trades a killer in to the cops to save his own neck.

Others remain open files on investigator’s desks.

In Sydney and its surrounds over the past six years, the open cases on suspected gangland hits include:

1. MICK HAWI, 37

Rockdale

February 14, 2018

Mahmoud “Mick” Hawi was gunned down outside a Rockdale gym last month.

The scene of the crime outside Fitness First in Rockdale. Picture: AAP

Hawi was shot in the front seat of his car outside the gym.

The former Comanchero boss was gunned down outside a Rockdale gym. Hawi was once convicted of the Sydney Airport murder of Anthony Zervas before the charge was downgraded to manslaughter.

2. BROOK KING, 43

Maroubra

October 21, 2017

CCTV footage Brook King, who was later shot in his unit.

King was shot in the head in his apartment on French St and died in St Vincent’s Hospital two days later. It is believed he owed money over a drug debt.

3. RICKY CIANO, 35

Oberon

February, 2017

Ricky Ciano was found dead inside a car.

Ciano’s car soon before his body was found in its backseat.

Detectives search for clues to the death. Picture: NSW Police

The body of the former Rebels bikie was found inside a BMW M3 sedan. Police have not ruled out he was given a lethal “hot-shot’’ of drugs to make his death look like an overdose.

4. MEHMET YILMAZ, 29

Brisbane St, St Marys

September 9, 2016

Homicide police making an arrest over Yilmaz’s murder. Picture: NSW Police

The known drug dealer was shot to death outside a home on Brisbane St, St Marys.

5. HUNG ROBERT TRAN, 24

Jasmine St, Cabramatta

July 2, 2016

Police believe Hung Robert Tran was lured to Cabramatta where he was shot. Police: NSW Police

Tran, from Canley Vale, was fatally shot in his car after being lured to Jasmine St, Cabramatta — a spot well known for its drug dealing activity.

6. ADRIAN BUXTON, 31

Colyton

May 19, 2016

Buxton was shot outside his home.

The Audi Q7 believed to have been used in Buxton’s murder.

The former Nomads bikie was shot repeatedly outside his home in Colyton.

7. WALID ‘WALLY’ AHMAD, 40

Bankstown

April 29, 2016

"Wally" Ahmad was shot dead at an outdoor cafe at Bankstown Central.

CCTV video of the shooting.

Forensic police create a 3D representation of the Bankstown crime scene.

Known as the “Mr Big” of Sydney’s underbelly, he was shot dead in broad daylight at Centro shopping centre outside a gym in the carpark.

8. MICHAEL ‘RUTHLESS’ DAVEY, 31

Kingswood

March 30, 2016

'Ruthless' was killed at home in Kingswood.

The Rebels bikie known as “Ruthless” was found dead in the driveway of his Kingswood home.

9. TYRONE LEE SLEMNIK, 37

Eastlakes

July 8, 2015

Hells Angel Bikie member Tyrone Lee Mathew Slemnik funeral at St Johns Catholic Church in Campbelltown. Photo Jeremy Piper

The Hells Angels nominee was shot dead outside the apartment block of chapter boss Suat Sarmisakliglu.

10. MARK EASTER, 37

North Sydney bushland

June 29, 2015

Mark Easter’s body was dumped in bushland. Picture: NSW Police

The body of the Rebels sergeant at arms was found dumped in bushland north of Sydney with a bullet in his head.

11. PETER HOANG, 36

Croydon Park

September 24, 2014

Peter Hoang was shot dead near a McDonald’s.

The notorious money launderer and gambler was shot dead near a McDonald’s in Dunmore St.

12. RAPHAEL JOSEPH, 40

Auburn

Missing since March 23, 2014

Raphael Joseph disappeared after leaving The Star.

The founding member of Assyrian gang The Last Hour is presumed murdered after he disappeared after leaving The Star casino for a meeting in a carpark near McDonald’s, Auburn. Police say they found a car in the Blue Mountains last month linked to the killing.

13. DARREN GALEA, 34

Duck River, Auburn

January 16, 2014

Galea’s body was found on the banks of the Duck River in Auburn with a bullet in his head. Police have suggested the killing of the quiet, orchid grower was most likely a case of mistaken identity.

14. VASKO BOSKOVSKI, 35

Earlwood

July 29, 2013

Vasko Boskovski was shot dead at his front door. Picture: Facebook

The debt collector was shot dead when he went to the front door of his Earlwood home.

15. ALI JAMMAS, 36

Abbotsford

July 12, 2013

Hells Angel associate Ali Jammas was killed by a gunman as he collected his wheelie bins from outside his Abbotsford home. (Mahmoud Barakat was found not guilty of his murder in 2016.)

16. KHALED KAHWAJI, 29

Greenacre

March 15, 2013

The Brothers For Life gang member was found dying with several gunshot wounds about 6.15pm. Kahwaji refused to name his killer with his final breath.

17. TO MIHN TU, 25

Fairfield Park baseball field

February 21, 2013

Tu died after he was shot four times by a gunman who has never been found and is marked as a mystery in the official coroner’s report.

18. ROY YAGHI, 33, AND JAMIE GROVER, 27

Wentworthville

August 30, 2012

Roy Yaghi was sitting in a ute when shot.

Gunshots into the window of the Hilux ute.

Notorious drug “cook” Roy Yaghi and his friend Jamie Grover were both shot dead in a hail of bullets while sitting in a Toyota Hilux ute outside a Wentworthville home. When a car with its lights off pulled over, a gunman got out and approached the passenger side of the ute before firing at least five shots through the window, hitting one of the men in the neck.

Yaghi attempted to drive away but lost consciousness and crashed into a car parked in the front yard of a neighbouring house. Both men died later at Westmead Hospital.