The War: Comanchero bikie Fares Abounader’s wife breaks silence two years after Panania killing

Fares Abounader was shot dead in August 2020. His death was the first of 13 killings on Sydney’s streets in just 18 months. Now his widow is speaking out.

For two years, the partner of Fares Abounader has been trying to come to terms with his senseless underworld ­execution.

“It is what it is, they’re just killing each other, there’s nothing I can do about it,” Kristia Gabriel told The Daily Telegraph.

Beyond that, she said she didn’t see any point to talking at length about her husband’s murder.

“There’s no point … what’s it going to do?”

Abounader, a Comanchero bikie, had just driven into the driveway of his Western Sydney home on August 29, 2020 when a gunman ran up alongside the car and opened fire.

Comanchero bikie Fares Abounader was shot dead in the driveway of his western Sydney home on August 29, 2020.

His partner Kristia Gabriel, who dragged him from the driver’s seat and desperately tried to save his life, has spoken for the first time since his death. Picture: Facebook

Ms Gabriel dragged him from the driver’s seat and tried desperately to help but Abounader could not be saved.

Photos from the night show a bloodied Ms Gabriel standing on Wall Ave in Panania talking with police.

Covered in blood, Ms Gabriel speaks with a detective after Abounader’s shooting. Picture: Steve Tyson

Ms Gabriel’s comments and the assassination of her partner Abounader feature in episode two of The Daily Telegraph’s new video series The War which looks at the more than a dozen men killed on Sydney’s streets over the past two years.

Abounader was the first of those.

He had long been a staunch member of the Comanchero, including being jailed over a wild brawl at Sydney Airport in 2009 that left a rival Hells Angels ­associate dead.

But police have for a substantial time been investigating whether Abounader’s death was linked to ­suggestions he was about to defect from the ­Comanchero to their rivals, the Bandidos.

Abounader’s body lies under a sheet as paramedics pack away their equipment at the scene. Picture: Steve Tyson

In the lead up to his death Abounader had been sentenced for possessing a Glock pistol and ammunition, with a court hearing he had done so because he feared for his own safety.

He told NSW District Court Judge Paul Conlon he had heard that there was a “hit on my head and there were some serious threats” to his life.

Hundreds of shattered mourners packed into St Charbels Mission Church in Punchbowl for Abounader’s funeral, as Raptor Squad police watched on. Picture: John Grainger

The court was told that people had even stopped him on the street to tell him there was “a hit on you”.

“He indicated that about six months ago there was a (police) officer who contacted him by telephone telling him that he needed to see him and that it was important,” Judge Conlon said in his sentencing remarks.

Earlier this year investigators released new CCTV showing a vehicle and person of interest from the night of Abounader’s death. Picture: NSW Police

The blond man on the right is believed to be involved in both the shootings of Mejid Hamzy and Fares Abounader. Picture: NSW Police

“He indicated that he spoke on several occasions to that officer where ultimately he said to that officer: ‘Just be honest with me is someone trying to get to me’.

“He said the officer said: ‘Pretty much yes but I need to see you and confirm this with you’.”

Earlier this year investigators released new CCTV showing a vehicle and a person of interest filmed on the night of Abounader’s death.

The vision shows a white Subaru driving around nearby streets moments before Mr Abounader was killed, and a man with a white hoodie walking along nearby Carew St where the Subaru was involved in a vehicle fire the following evening.

Anyone with information that could assist Strike Force Manifold, which was set up following Abounader’s execution, are urged to contact ­Crimestoppers on the following number: 1800 333 000.