Mak Muon, Emu Plains stabbing: Gregory Ambler and Jayde Kay face court for allegedly hindering investigation
A series of text messages have allegedly revealed the reason an aspiring rapper who has links to the OneFour gang was left for dead in a reserve. The shocking details have emerged as two men accused of hindering investigators have been released from jail.
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Police investigating the death of Mak Muon allege he was killed for retribution after he and associates carried out a “drug rip’’ the night before he was killed in Emu Plains, court documents reveal.
The shocking details have emerged as Gregory Ambler and Jayden Kaye — who have both been accused of concealing information into the stabbing — have been granted bail.
Ambler, a 22-year-old unemployed dad appeared at Parramatta Local Court on Tuesday via video link less than a week after Mr Muon’s lifeless body was allegedly filmed lying near a car at Bunyarra Reserve.
The court heard Ambler was driving a black Nissan Murano around Emu Plains with the aspiring rapper, who has links to the OneFour gang, about 4am on Thursday, September 24, when they inadvertently cut off a white SUV.
He claims they were chased around the suburb before they drove to Bunyarra Reserve and crashed into a creek at the park.
Mr Muon’s body was found with a knife blade protruding from his chest and multiple lacerations to his head shortly before 8am.
Police fact sheets reveal Ambler ran to the home of co-accused Jayde Kaye at McCauley Cres and returned to the park in a taxi where Kay is accused of filming Mr Muon’s corpse.
Ambler, of Hassall Grove, and Emu Plains man Kaye, 26, were allegedly known to 23-year-old Mr Muon and were charged with hindering the murder investigation and concealing an indictable offence.
No one has been charged with the murder. Police facts state the audio attached to Kay’s footage of Mr Muon’s body showed he was aware of the person responsible for his death.
“Both the accused and Kay have intimate knowledge of what occurred the previous night and who would be responsible for the murder.
“However, both, having been given the opportunity to tell police what occurred, have chosen not to tell police anything.’’
Police discovered several text messages from the previous night which indicate Ambler was planning a drug/money rip (home invasion) with Mr Muon, but neither Ambler or Kay have been charged with carrying out a raid.
“Text messages of note include ‘I’m gonna kick a door tonight if all goes well I’ll have your cash tomorrow”.
“Me and Mak got that other job tonight that’s gonna be a cracker. This c***t’s home by himself right now, you wanna go pump it out. He only lives with his misses (sic) but saves all the screaming and some b***h getting knocked out’’ and “Brother you wanna come we’re going soon 10/15k cash Oz or 2 of coke.’’
The fact sheet then states Kay responds about 3.30am: “Tommy got one up on 67’’, with 67 being a Doonside youth gang. The 67 gang members are rivals with OneFour.
Police allege CCTV footage shows a sedan and the white SUV pulling up outside Kay’s home, where three knife-wielding males run towards his home at 4.11am.
The SUV’s headlights on high beam block what happens next but Ambler leaves as the black Murano speeds away shortly after, followed by the SUV which led to the murder scene.
Police facts state that, “ given the content of the accused’s (Ambler’s) phone and the CCTV footage” it appeared that the accused has in fact done a drug rip somewhere and the victim/or associates of the victim who was ripped” made their way to Kay’s home for retribution and retrieve what was taken.
Police also searched Kay’s home where a pair of wet pants, believed to belong to Ambler, who failed to mention a change of clothes to police, was found.
Police allege Ambler stuck to his story about the “road rage” incident when they interviewed him at his house on Friday night and was taken to St Marys police station where he refused to divulge more to police.
On Tuesday, Ambler’s lawyer Javid Faiz told the court he had not been charged with murder or being part of a gang, and would adhere to strict bail conditions while waiting for the matter to proceed to the district court.
Police prosecutor Rick Romanous told the court Ambler had an unacceptable risk of committing further offences.
“The prosecution case is strong,’’ Sgt Romanous said.
“The accused has knowledge of people involved. Police are concerned if he’s released there’s a risk for certain people’s safety in relation to these matters and other matters.’’
Magistrate Tim Keady acknowledged risks Ambler posed if he was released from custody.
“It is alleged that there is involvement of gang-related activities and also that there are other elements of criminal activities in relation to another gang,’’ he said.
“That is the risk if the accused is released from custody.’’
“I do think that he’s in possession of more information that he’s prepared to divulge.
“I’m not in a position to speculate. I can’t speculate. Given his limited criminal history to date and limited information available about the role in his offence … I’m inclined to grant bail on the reason risks can be mitigated.
“I’m very conscious this is an early stage for the investigation. It will be a matter of the DPP to decide how these matters progress.”
Under his bail conditions, Ambler must report to Mt Druitt police station twice a day, post a $5000 surety, not use a phone or other communications device, not leave the home without his mum or sister and not associate with Kay.
Ambler was ordered to front Penrith Local Court on October 13.
Kaye appeared at Penrith Local Court on Wednesday where he was given bail under very similar conditions to Ambler.
Kaye’s lawyer, Christopher Wozniak, said he was pleading not guilty to the charges, and said he didn’t expect Kay to receive a custodial sentence if he was found guilty.
He also questioned the police facts, saying the police failed to include the times several key text messages were sent.
“It appears to be put in the facts to raise the culpability of the defendant,” he said.
“It’s not as if he sent the police on a frolick, he’s simply maintained a degree of silence in terms of what he’s said.”
He said Kay didn’t have any history of interfering with witnesses, and only had one record of breaching bail back in 2015.
Magistrate Carl Milovanovich granted Kay strict conditional bail while acknowledging the prosecution had a “strong case” against him.
Kay must live at an address in Colyton, report to police at Mt Druitt daily, not leave his home unless in the company of one of his two sisters, and submit to curfew checks by police.
He has also been banned from entering Emu Plains or Emu Heights and must not apply for a passport.