Bradley Billiet pleads guilty to concealing shooting murder of Tony Nugent at Hamilton South

Petty criminal Tony Nugent was allegedly murdered, blasted at the front door of a Newcastle home. Three men have been charged with his murder while another man has admitted to trying to cover it up.

The crime scene at the Hamilton South, Newcastle, home where Tony Nugent was shot dead. Picture: Peter Lorimer

A Hunter man has admitted to trying to cover up the alleged shooting murder of a petty criminal, who was blasted at the front door of a friend’s home in Newcastle, fleeing to another state before being extradited by police.

Following an 11-month investigation, Strike Force Alcheringa detectives raided properties in Newcastle and Sydney before three men were charged with the murder of Tony Nugent, 57, at Hamilton South on September 6, 2022.

Police allege Mohd Azlan Latham Aznan, Mohammad Raad and Tyrone Tuli all travelled to the Fowler St unit before Raad is said to have fired the shotgun which struck Mr Nugent in the chest as he opened the front door of his friend’s residence.

Tony Nugent was shot after opening the front door of a Hamilton South unit on September 6, 2022. Picture: Supplied.

A Waratah man, Mohd Azlan Latham Aznan, was arrested by Strike Force Alcheringa detectives on August 1, 2023 and later charged with murder. Picture: NSW Police.

It’s further alleged Mr Nugent was targeted after a deal in the black market gun trade went awry.

All three men have not yet entered pleas to the murder charges and another charge of supplying a pistol to a person unauthorised to possess it. The trio are due to appear back in court next month.

Bradley Charles Billiet, 42, appeared via video link at Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday and pleaded guilty to concealing a serious indictable offence and give a shortened firearm to other.

Charges of supply prohibited firearm to unauthorised person, possess shortened firearm without authority and possess unauthorised firearm were all previously withdrawn.

A Sydney man, Mohammad Raad is arrested by Strike Force Alcheringa detectives at a Macquarie Fields fast food outlet on August 2, 2023 and was later charged with murder. Picture: NSW Police.

His matters have been sent to Newcastle’s District Court for mention next month where a sentence date will be set.

Police facts detailed that Billiet failed to tell police he knew Raad, Tuli and Latham Aznan were all allegedly involved in the murder and instead fled interstate before being extradited back to NSW in July last year after being arrested.

Court documents said Billiet did not disclose the purchase of a firearm on the day prior to the alleged murder and that they had been “ripped off and sold a gel blaster”.

On the day of the alleged murder, police facts said Billiet drove Tuli and Aznan to an address in Raymond Terrace where they picked up a shortened double barrel firearm and returned to his residence in Jesmond where Tuli was “playing with it like a kid with a new toy”.

The crime scene at Hamilton South. Picture by Peter Lorimer.

Court documents disclosed that Billiet did not disclose efforts by Tuli and Aznan to locate the seller of the first firearm before he was asked to transport them, Raad and another man to a home in Hamilton South before the gun was allegedly loaded by Raad who put gloves on and placed it down his pants.

Court documents said the group of men left before Billiet heard a loud bang and within minutes saw them run from another residence holding the firearm, and fled from the area, which he later learned was Mr Nugent being shot and killed.