Luke Sparos faces court over alleged Samer Marcus attempted murder

Police allege a gunman shot a senior gang member several times in an act of revenge over an alleged jail yard stabbing two years ago.

A man accused of shooting another gang member with an intent to murder him switched off his phone at the time of the alleged crime and was seen returning home to remove and wash his clothes shortly after it occurred a court has heard.

Luke John Sparos appeared before Magistrate Clare Farnan at Central Local Court on Thursday afternoon (May 6) on charges of shoot with intent to murder and tampering with evidence.

The first charge relates to the alleged shooting of Samer Marcus, a member of western Sydney gang DLASTHR - The Last Hour, who is now paralysed from the neck down.

The second charge stems from Sparos allegedly destroying his phone by stomping on it at Surry Hills police station when he was arrested yesterday.

Sparos appeared via videolink, handcuffed and wearing a grey Nike Air hoodie, his receding hair cut short and stubble on his face.

Samer Marcus was allegedly shot from close range outside his home on Campbelltown Rd at Denham Court.

The court heard neither the victim nor his partner saw the alleged shooter but Marcus identified him by the sound of his voice and the words he uttered.

Magistrate Farnan, in reading from the police facts, noted the pair allegedly had a fight while they were both in custody at the Mid North Coast Correctional Centre in 2019 and the words spoken immediately prior to the shooting referenced this.

Sparos’ barrister Philip Strickland called the officer in charge of the case Detective Scott Andrew Matthews to cross examine him regarding the police facts.

“Are you aware Mr Marcus is charged with shooting a member of another group True Kings?” Mr Strickland asked.

“Yes,” said Det Matthews.

“Are you aware Mr Marcus is a suspect in a number of murders?” Mr Strickland questioned.

“He has been yes,” Det Matthews said.

“So it would be fair to say Mr Marcus has several enemies?” Mr Strickland said.

“I would believe so,” answered Det Matthews.

In attempting to get his client bailed, Mr Strickland told the court the prosecution case was weak.

Police arrest a 40-year-old man at Surry Hills on Wednesday.

The 40-year-old was charged with attempted murder.

“It is said the accused has a vendetta against the victim but Your Honour has heard there are many people who had a motive to shoot,” Mr Strickland said.

“He (Marcus) was involved in serious and violent altercations

“DLASTHR is a serious and violent group - a gang.”

Sparos’ legal team proposed stringent bail conditions including virtual house arrest, a $300,000 surety and a self-funded electronic anklet monitoring system.

The prosecution told the court at the time of the alleged shooting, Sparos’ home was under police video surveillance and his phone was being tapped.

“At the relevant times all activity on the phone ceased as if the phone was turned off,” the prosecution said.

“It’s not coincidental that occurred at the relevant time of the shooting.

“The accused gets home at 2.30am and immediately after he gets home he takes his clothes off to wash.

“ The surveillance plus the identification by the victim paints a strong prosecution case.”

Magistrate Farnan refused Sparos bail.

He will next appear in Campbelltown Local Court on July 1.

Police said at a press conference earlier in the day that Samer Marcus will spend his 45th birthday on Thursday as a wheelchair-bound quadriplegic after being shot in the driveway of his Denham Court home.

Police and forensic officers at the scene on November 7. Picture: Julian Andrews

The man will front court on Thursday.

Detective Superintendent Jason Weinstein said revenge was allegedly a 40-year-old man’s motive for shooting Mr Marcus eight times to his chest, leg and head in front of his wife at the Campbelltown Rd home.

Police allege Mr Marcus stabbed the man at the Mid North Coast Correctional Centre back in July 2019.

The 40-year-old man was charged with attempted murder on Wednesday and allegedly has links to high-level organised crime groups in Australia and NSW.

“Regardless of a victim’s association with groups or otherwise, the reality is we’ve got a victim who now has life-long term injuries,’’ Det-Supt Weinstein said on Thursday.

Police will allege the incident stemmed from the stabbing at the jail two years ago.

Mr Marcus is a senior member within western Sydney gang DLASTHR - The Last Hour.

In January, a black BMW allegedly used in the alleged shooting was found at Granville after a public tip-off.

Forensic examination led to the arrest of a 25-year-old Maroubra man in February who was charged with 29 counts of breaking and entering. He was refused bail.

Inquiries into the alleged shooting were taken over by the State Crime Command’s Raptor Squad under Strike Force Eradore.

The Strike Force revealed Mr Marcus was assisting with information while recovering from his injuries in hospital.

Police will allege a stolen black BMW from Lilyfield was used in the shooting on November 6 at 8pm.

Extensive CCTV footage allegedly showed the 40-year-old man running through a paddock after the shooting and into the BMW, according to police.

Det-Supt Weinstein said police were confident of more arrests over the matter.

Detectives released footage of the black 2015 BMW M4 believed to be involved in the alleged shooting.

Police allege Luke Sparos shot Samer Marcus at close range.