Bilal Hamze murder: Man charged after Sydney CBD shooting death

Police have charged a man over the CBD murder of Bilal Hamze on the same day they have carried out a crime scene warrant where his cousin Ghassan Amoun was killed.

Police are gaining the upper hand in Sydney’s gang war for the first time, charging a man over the murder of Bilal Hamze on the same day they carried out a crime scene warrant where his cousin Ghassan Amoun was killed.

Samuel John Rokomaqisa was visited by NSW Police Homicide Squad detectives on Tuesday morning and charged with murder over Hamze’s fatal shooting as he walked along Bridge St about 10.30pm on June 17 last year.

Hamze’s death is one of the most high-profile murders of the underworld war that has seen 16 lives taken in two years.

Police allege Rokomaqisa was one of two men in a black Audi sedan from which the fatal shots were fired.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal that just hours after the 32-year-old was charged, detectives returned to the location where Hamze’s cousin and fellow notorious gang kingpin Ghassan Amoun — the brother of Bassam Hamzy — was gunned down in January this year.

Samuel Rokomaqisa is arrested over an unrelated matter a year ago. Picture: Channel 7

Video shows multiple detectives outside the Laser Lady beauty clinic on the Great Western Hwy at South Wentworthville on Thursday.

NSW Police confirmed a crime scene warrant was carried out, but would not go into further detail about the investigation into Amoun’s death.

Bilal Hamze was gunned down by a spray of bullets after dining out in Sydney CBD.

Homicide Squad boss Danny Doherty has long maintained his officers would arrest those responsible for the gangland murders in recent years no matter how long it took but admitted Tuesday’s arrest was a breakthrough.

“This has been a well known crime murder, a well known target and a number of people we believe are involved prior to, during and after, and we’re still making those inquiries,” Detective Superintendent Doherty said.

“We’re still keen to get more information about who else was in the car and who else is responsible.

“Obviously (we allege) there’s more than one person involved in this offence and those inquiries are still ongoing.”

The scene where Bilal Hamze was shot dead in the city last year. Picture: Adam Yip

Det Supt Doherty said he was confident more arrests would be made in the near future.

Hamze had just walked out of Kid Kyoto restaurant with a glamorous mystery woman when he was shot multiple times.

Passersby tried to help the gang boss until emergency services arrived and rushed him to St Vincent’s Hospital, but he could not be saved.

Det Supt Doherty told reporters it was still under investigation whether it would be alleged Rokomaqisa was hired to carry out the murder and be the “gun for hire”.

Strike Force Englorie was established to investigate the murder of Bilal Hamze.

“It doesn’t matter who pulled the trigger, it’s still a murder and today’s perfect proof of that, that to be in the car during a murder, you’re going to be charged with murder,” he said.

“This was, at prime time, at night in the entertainment sector of Sydney and a hail of bullets cut down Bilal Hamze and he died and that would have been horrific to witness, and no one should stand for this.

“The community are shocked that this sort of thing would happen on the streets of Sydney.

“However, they also should be reminded that we haven’t given up.’’

Rokomaqisa faced Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday where he made no application for bail and is next due to return on September 29.