Ambush murder of taxi driver Andrew Mordowicz still baffles police after 26 years

Taxi driver Andrew Mordowicz was gunned down in Klemzig driveway 26 years ago — but was he the unluckiest of robbery victims, or was targeted for execution?

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There are just two likely scenarios in which taxi driver Andrew Mordowicz was murdered.

He was either the unluckiest of robbery victims, or he was targeted for execution.

Almost 26 years after his violent death in a dark Klemzig driveway, Major Crime detectives still have no firm motive in the baffling case, only theories.

It is a true murder mystery.

Unlike most murder cases, since Mr Mordowicz, 43, was ambushed and shot three times, there have been virtually no promising leads or evidence unearthed to point to a suspect.

Major Crime case officer Detective Brevet Sergeant Ann Schaefer said there was no doubt the ambush was “set up’’ by the killer – but it was still unknown if Mr Mordowicz was the intended target or simply an unfortunate victim.

“The fact it was Andrew is the difficulty,’’ she said.

“It was a computer generated call-out, so to know it was a targeted person is difficult to substantiate. We cannot rule out it was targeted, but a lot of things would have to fall into place to set it up so well.’’

Mr Mordowicz, a taxi driver for about 15 years, was gunned down in the driveway of a Fife St, Klemzig home just after 4.30am on September 29, 1996.

Working his usual nightshift, he had been busy with routine city jobs and had also scored a “golden fare’’ down to Hallett Cove.

Nearing the end of his shift, his on-board booking computer listed his cab by number – 385 – in the Vale Park area when his next job came up.

At 3.47am, a male called Yellow Cabs booking service in Gilles St, requesting a taxi for 4.30am at 79 Fife St at Klemzig. At 4.20am the job was allocated to Mr Mordowicz – simply because he was in the area.

The Klemzig property where Andy Mordowicz was murdered.

Significantly, detectives believe no-one other than a few staff in the Yellow Cabs control room would have known Mr Mordowicz was in that area at that particular time.

In other words, it was pure chance he was allocated that job.

As requested, Mr Mordowicz pulled into Fife St at 4.30am. He soon found there was no number 79 as per the booking – the last house was number 78 - so he pulled into its driveway.

He asked the dispatcher to check the address as there was no-one waiting and was told to knock on the door.

The evidence at the scene indicates Mr Mordowicz was gunned down shortly after he left his taxi.

Facing his killer just in front of his cab, he was shot three times.

One bullet struck him in the chest, another grazed his left shoulder and a third, fired from above, struck him in the forehead. Several shell casings were found in a garden bed and bullet holes were located in a rainwater tank and fence at the end of the driveway.

Neighbours heard the volley of shots from the .9mm handgun the killer used, and raised the alarm, but there were no witnesses.

Andrew Mordowicz.

Police officer using metal detector at the crime scene.

Critically wounded, Mr Mordowicz was rushed to hospital but died two hours later surrounded by his wife, Helen, 41, son Adrian, 24, and daughter Nicole, 18.

At Fife St, police were taking no chances. STAR Group officers forced entry to the house – which was empty – and a methodical search of the street and adjacent Linear Park was conducted.

While detectives see robbery as a likely motive – the killer chose to lure a taxi driver to Fife St to steal his takings – there are many questions surrounding that scenario, primarily the fact that Mr Mordowicz was not robbed.

It would have taken his killer just seconds to find the $325 cash in his pocket and his coin dispenser with another $50.70 hidden under his seat.

And the fact a petty thief would arm themselves with a 9mm handgun – and shoot someone three times at close range – was also unusual.

“They may not have intended to shoot him. That may have happened for some reason and they panicked and then took off without robbing him,’’ Det. Bvt Sgt Schaefer said.

The fact the killer ordered the taxi to attend number 79 Fife St – which did not exist – was also unusual.

The untouched coin dispenser in the taxi.

STAR Force were also on scene to investigate.

“This may indicate they may not have had a good knowledge of the street,’’ she said.

“The location may have been chosen because it was adjacent Linear Park and provided clear escape routes.’’

Det. Bvt Sgt Schaefer said while robbery was an obvious motive, detectives could not rule out other possibilities, although there was no firm evidence.

Investigations found Mr Mordowicz had been in financial difficulties, was a declared bankrupt and a keen gambler.

Detectives cannot rule out that Mr Mordowicz may have been targeted, but his killer would need to have followed him to Fife St because his taxi was randomly assigned that pick-up. With several dozen taxis working that nightshift, the chances of his killer knowing he would be given that job are somewhat slim.

It is likely the limited information provided by the public may be because the killer acted alone and told no-one.

“Everything points to just one person being involved but, again, that may not prove to be the case,’’ Det. Bvt Sgt Schaefer said.

“There have been people nominated as being connected, but they have never reached the point of being persons of interest and certainly not suspects.’’

A reward of up to $200,000 is on offer for information leading to a conviction in the case.

Originally published as Ambush murder of taxi driver Andrew Mordowicz still baffles police after 26 years