Man arrested over 2008 cold case murder is bikie boss’ father

A bikie boss’s dad allegedly bludgeoned his gay lover with a statuette and then tried to decapitate him with a kitchen knife, a court has heard.

A man charged with murdering his “casual” lover more than a decade ago is the father of a notorious bikie, who imported drugs from Dubai to Australia with Michael Ibrahim.

Naji Fakhreddine, 66, was arrested on Wednesday morning and charged over the death of German national Bernd Lehmann, 66, who was found dead in his Ashfield unit on February 14, 2008.

Police will allege the pair met at the Wests Ashfield club before their friendship eventually became sexual one fateful night at Mr Lehmann’s Alt St home.

Years later, detectives now allege bloody fingerprints and palm prints on a statuette thought to be the murder weapon, saliva on eight cigarette butts in Mr Lehmann’s lounge and semen found on his body can be forensically linked to Fakhreddine.

At Sutherland Local Court Magistrate on Wednesday Jayeann Carney said police would allege Mr Lehmann – who was due to travel to Germany the day he died – performed oral sex on Fakhreddine only minutes before they had an argument which ended in his death.

Bernd Lehmann was found dead inside his Ashfield unit on February 14, 2008. More than 13 years on, NSW Police made a breakthrough in the case by charging Naji Fakhreddine with murder on Wednesday.

Naji is the father of Hassan Fakhreddine, a Lone Wolf bikie who was sentenced to eight years in prison for his role in importing MDMA worth almost $400 million into the country in 2017.

Hassan — better known in bikie circles as “Faks” — also met with Ahmad “Adam” Doudar, just 10 days before Doudar helped to move the getaway car used by Hawi’s killers.

There is no suggestion Hassan Fakhreddine was involved in or ordered Hawi’s killing.

Naji Fakhreddine’s son is notorious Lone Wolf bikie Hassan “Faks” Fakhreddine who is currently serving an eight-year jail term for drug importation. Picture: Supplied

While Hassan has at least four years to go on his drug importation sentence, his father spent his first night behind bars on Wednesday after being refused bail.

Sutherland Local Court heard how Naji Fakhreddine had received oral sex from Mr Lehmann just minutes before he allegedly used a large plastic statue to fatally beat Mr Lehmann over the head.

“A conflict occurred over an unknown matter,” Magistrate Jayeann Carney read from the police facts.

“The accused took hold of a statue, which was hard and plastic, 33cm long and weighed about 2.7kg. and struck him with such force the head snapped off and landed on the dining room table.”

Police allege Fakhreddine struck Mr Lehmann more than 20 times before he died and Fakhreddine then unsuccessfully attempted to decapitate him with a kitchen knife.

The 66-year-old Arncliffe man applied for bail on conditions akin to house arrest on the basis his wife was ill with cancer and he could offer $1.5 million as a security.

Ms Carney refused the application after police prosecutor Sergeant McGee described the case against Fakhreddine as “overwhelming” in strength.

Naji Fakhreddine was arrested by NSW Police about 7.30am on Wednesday, before being charged with the murder of Mr Lehmann. Picture: NSW Police

Mr Fakhreddine, 66, was arrested at a home in Arncliffe. He was taken to Kogarah Police Station and later charged with murder. Picture: NSW Police

“This murder was a vicious attack on another man and what could be described as a hate crime against a man identified as homosexual,” Sgt McGee told the court.

“There was (biological evidence) found in the mouth of the accused, (along with) the DNA found on the murder weapon and fingerprints in blood on the murder weapon – upon conviction he’s likely to spend the rest of his life in prison.”

Police allege subsequent analysis also revealed Fakhreddine’s left palm print on the murder weapon, along with his saliva on eight cigarette butts.

A friend of Mr Lehmann gave a statement to police in which he alleged the day of Mr Lehmann’s death was not the first time Mr Lehmann and Fakhreddine were intimate.

“One night ‘the taxi driver’ invited himself in (to Mr Lehmann’s unit),” Ms Carney read from the police facts.

“Bernd mentioned he was calling out ‘I’m horny when I’m tired’, Bernd went into the bedroom and (performed oral sex).”

Mr Lehmann (left) was found dead inside his unit on Valentine’s Day in 2008. Picture: NSW Police

Fakhreddine’s arrest about 7.30am on Wednesday brought an end to a 13-year manhunt by NSW Police detectives.

Last June, Hassan Fakhreddine – the second-oldest of Naji Fakhreddine’s eight children – was sentenced to at least eight years’ jail over a plot to import a commercial quantity of MDMA alongside underworld figure Michael Ibrahim.

In September, police retested DNA taken from the bloody scene of Mr Lehmann’s murder and discovered a link to Hassan Fakhreddine which indicated he was either the son or the sibling of the person whose DNA was found at Mr Lehmann’s unit.

“Police then obtained a discarded cigarette from the accused,” Ms Carney read from the police facts.

“It was found to match (the unknown individual) at Mr Lehmann’s apartment, and a fingerprint found in the blood on the statue is the accused’s left middle fingerprint.”

Police allege subsequent analysis also revealed Fakhreddine’s left palm print on the murder weapon, along with his saliva on eight cigarette butts and his DNA inside Mr Lehmann’s mouth.

Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty, Homicide Squad Commander said the man’s arrest came after police put together the “puzzle pieces” of information that had been gathered over the last 13 years.

“Bernd’s murder was a horrific crime. He was a well-respected member of the community who had been working as a disability carer prior to his murder,” Detective Superintendent Doherty said.

“After 13 years of searching for answers, we hope this will provide Bernd’s family and loved ones with some peace.”