Stacey Klimovitch allegedly killed in ‘orchestrated’ hit planned by daughter‘s ex

Detectives allege the souring of relations between shotgun victim Stacey Klimovitch and her daughter’s former boyfriend prompted Stuart Daniel Campbell to order a hitman to kill the 61-year-old.

Stuart Daniel Campbell‘s family were shattered when his father was killed following a highly-planned and vicious beating over drugs.

Yet just four years later, the 29-year-old is now alleged to have been the mastermind of an “orchestrated” hit on the mother of his ex-lover, with police alleging he paid a hitman to blast the Stockton grandmother to death with a shotgun because their communications had soured when his relationship with her daughter had ended.

Campbell wasn’t required to face Newcastle Bail Court on Saturday where he formally faced the charge of murdering Stockon grandmother Stacey Klimovitch on June 9.

Stacey Klimovitch was shot dead at the front door of her Stockton home. Picture: Facebook.

Detectives will allege Campbell hired the hitman to kill Ms Klimovitch, 61, after the pair fell out following the breakdown of his relationship with Ms Klimovitch’s daughter, Alex, several months beforehand.

Stacey Klimovitch, a swimming teacher who friends said did not have an enemy, died after being shot in the chest with a 12-gauge shotgun when she opened the front door of her Queen St home.

Alex, who was in the back area of the home when the shotgun was fired through a security screen, was not physically injured.

The shotgun blast went though a security screen and into Stacey Klimovitch’s chest after she opened the front door of her Queen St residence. Picture: Emily Burley.

Strike Force Backhouse detectives allege Campbell “orchestrated” the murder, allegedly hiring Canberra man Jason Paul Hawkins to carry out the assassination in a car belonging to a former high-ranking Nomads bikie.

Hawkins, 46, was arrested by ACT police several hours after Campbell on Friday and was being held on an arrest warrant before Newcastle City detectives formally apply for his extradition on Monday to face a murder charge in NSW.

The Canberra Times reported on Saturday that Hawkins, 46, faced ACT Magistrate’s Court on Saturday where he unsuccessfully applied to be released.

Forensic police are on the scene of the fatal shooting at Queen St, Stockton. Picture: Emily Burley.

“I know the allegation is murder but there’s no statement of facts or nothing,” The Canberra Times reported Hawkins as telling the court.

“I don’t understand what is happening.’’

Newcastle City Police District commander Superintendent Wayne Humphrey announced to reporters at a press conference on Saturday that a third man, from Waratah West, had been arrested by Strike Force Backhouse detectives on Thursday night and charged with unrelated matters.

Newcastle City Police District commander Superintendent Wayne Humphrey. Picture: Emily Burley.

Supt Humphrey said it would be alleged the car used in the alleged murder belonged to West Waratah man.

The 64-year-old man, who The Newcastle News understands was a former high-ranking Nomads bikie, has not been charged with any offences relating to Ms Klimovitch’s alleged murder.

“We are alleging that Mr Campbell is in fact the person who orchestrated the murder,’’ Supt Humphrey said.

Supt Humphrey praised Strike Force Backhouse detectives for their 24-week investigation which culminated in the arrests.

Forensic police are on the scene of the fatal shooting at Queen St, Stockton. Picture: Emily Burley.

Campbell was dramatically arrested at gunpoint as he drove his motor home along Honeysuckle Drive on Friday morning.

He was not required to enter a plea on Saturday and will remain in custody until his next appearance in Newcastle Local Court on January 27.

Campbell’s father, drug dealer Bobby Stuart Allan, 48, died on a neighbour’s doorstep after being bashed with a baseball bat during a violent Canberra home invasion and drug rip in 2017.

Three men were later jailed for Allan’s manslaughter.