Naji Fakhreddine charged over Bernd Lehmann cold case after DNA sample from son

A man who was charged over a cold case murder only after detectives took a DNA sample from his bikie son years later has today been freed on bail.

A Sydney man who was charged over a cold case murder only after detectives took a DNA sample from his bikie son years later has been freed on $2 million bail.

Naji Fakhreddine, 66, faced the NSW Supreme Court on Tuesday five months after police accused him of using a statuette to fatally bash his lover Bernd Lehmann in an Ashfield unit on Valentine‘s Day, 2008.

His bikie son Hassan Fakhreddine was jailed last year over a botched drug importation plot involving Michael Ibrahim, the brother of Kings Cross identity John Ibrahim.

Ashfield man Bernd Lehmann was found dead in 2008.

Justice Peter Hamill, SC, said Fakhreddine senior had only come under suspicion for Mr Lehmann‘s murder when police took a DNA sample from his son during an unrelated probe.

“ (Fakhreddine) came under suspicion in September 2020 when a familial search was conducted on a DNA database in relation to one of (his) sons, Hassan, who was subject to a police investigation in relation to entirely unrelated matters,” Justice Hamill said.

“A DNA match to a crime scene – Mr Lehmann’s murder – emerged.

“It showed or suggested that DNA discovered at that scene was that of the brother or father of Hassan.“

Justice Hamill said a “compelling case“ connecting Fakhreddine to Mr Lehmann had been compiled by police.

“This includes DNA and fingerprint evidence establishing, on the prosecution case, a likely sexual relationship between the two men and linking (Fakhreddine) to a bloodstained headless statuette found at the murder scene and said to be the weapon or one of the weapons one of the weapons used to kill Mr Lehmann,” he said.

However, the court heard Fakhreddine’s trial may not go ahead for at least another two years due to Covid restrictions.

He also does not present a danger to the public because of his age despite the serious allegation against him, the court was told.

He was granted bail on a $2 million surety from his family.

Police allege taxi driver Fakhreddine, who married a woman, killed Mr Lehmann shortly after the German national performed oral sex on him.

Mr Lehmann, 66, suffered serious head wounds during the alleged attack.

Police have alleged Mr Fakhreddine and Mr Lehmann were friends and lovers after meeting at the Wests Ashfield Leagues Club in the weeks before the murder.