Alev Oncu: Criminal lawyer charged with evidence tampering in Craig Anderson shooting death

A lawyer charged with destroying evidence for her husband after he was allegedly involved in the shooting death of a western Sydney drug dealer has pleaded with a court to allow video calls and jail visits.

A criminal lawyer who allegedly destroyed crucial evidence to protect her husband after the shooting death of a western Sydney drug dealer has appealed to a court for compassion for jail visits and video calls.

Alev Oncu, 29, of Blacktown was charged in 2019 in connection to the shooting death of Craig Anderson, 51.

Anderson was allegedly shot four times outside his Doonside home in May 2019 by Comanchero bikie Jim Dastan.

Oncu’s husband, Ali Afsin Cevik, 29, has been charged with murder alongside Dastan and two other men.

Ali Cevik, charged with murder over the shooting death of Craig Anderson in Doonside pictured with wife Alev Oncu charged with tampering evidence in relation to the murder.

Oncu has denied allegations of tampering with evidence with intent to mislead a judicial trial and perverting the course of justice and is set to stand trial in October.

Cevik is set to stand trial in the Supreme Court in July after denying his alleged role in the murder.

Police allege Oncu deleted CCTV footage stored on a hard drive of her husband and co-accused Sean Fairweather at the couple’s home the day after the shooting.

Oncu has maintained her innocence throughout lengthy court proceedings with police withdrawing a more serious charge of being an accessory to murder after the fact last year.

Facing Parramatta District Court on Wednesday for a bail review, Oncu’s defence lawyer said the couple had had limited contact since their arrests more than 18 months ago.

Alev Oncu will stand trial in October. Picture: Facebook

The court heard the couple had been banned from having any form of contact until Judge Stephen permitted phone calls between the lovers in October last year.

“It’s reached the point of being cruel to prevent husband and wife from speaking to each other,” the defence said.

“(Cevik) has access to two phones at Bathurst Correctional Centre shared between more than 700 inmates – it’s really starting to take a toll on their relationship.

“It’s on a compassionate basis that she wants to talk to him.”

However, the Crown prosecutor argued there were risks over audio-visual link or AVL calls being allowed between the pair due to limited monitoring by jail staff.

Craig Anderson was shot four times outside his Doonside home in 2019. Picture: Adam Yip

Judge Jane Culver said the seriousness of the couple’s charges made increased contact between the pair too great a risk.

“If a bail variation is made, it would present the risk of the applicant interfering with evidence or witnesses,” Judge Culver said.

“I’ve considered on compassionate grounds that (Oncu) wants to have access with her husband … we are now at a very sensitive stage in so far as her husband is facing trial in the Supreme Court next month.

“The concern is that if (Oncu) is permitted to have AVL or in-person visits, there will be an opportunity for unmonitored conversation.”

“If found guilty at trial, there is no doubt in my mind she will face a lengthy term of full-time imprisonment.

“I consider the risk too great to consider the variation to bail.”