Rocco Arico ordered hit on Toby Mitchell after bikie exchanged men’s mags for cocaine, court documents claim
SUSPECTED mafia figure Rocco Arico ordered the killing of Toby Mitchell after the bikie exchanged a bag full of sleazy men’s magazines for a kilo of cocaine in a brazen sting, court documents claim.
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SUSPECTED mafia figure Rocco Arico ordered the killing of Toby Mitchell after the bikie exchanged a bag full of sleazy men’s magazines for a kilo of cocaine in a brazen sting, court documents claim.
Arico was allegedly furious when he found out the Bandido enforcer pulled off the $350,000 drug con on Boxing Day 2010. Eleven months later, Mitchell was shot by two gunmen outside Doherty’s gym in Brunswick.
The crime is unsolved.
The alleged kill plot emerged in court documents as Arico was ordered to stand trial over allegations of drug and extortion charges.
The documents claimed that Arico had terrorised an underling — the mysterious Witness A — who he blamed for the drug deal gone wrong.
Witness A — a drug dealer — allegedly met with Mitchell in Brunswick to exchange the drugs for cash.
Mitchell was allegedly handed the cocaine and told Witness A the money was in a bag under a tree 20m away.
When Witness A opened the bag he found a box that contained Ralph magazines — the racy “lads” publication.
Mitchell had allegedly left with the drugs and switched off his phone before Witness A and his associate discovered the switch.
The next day, Witness A together with his friend brawled and exchanged gunfire with Mitchell and “bald” males at the North Brunswick Football Club oval.
DNA from blood found at the scene was later found to be from the associate.
Mitchell allegedly refused to hand over the money despite a series of meetings with Witness A.
According to prosecution documents, Arico was furious about the theft and ordered the killing of Mitchell, and demanded Witness A courier drugs to Perth to repay him.
At one point, Sydney hitmen offered to take up the contract, while Witness A and the associate, a well-known Brunswick identity, surveilled Mitchell, finding he lived in Point Cook, the documents allege.
“They didn’t get the opportunity to shoot Mitchell and shortly afterwards he found out Mitchell had moved into a high-rise apartment in the city,” the prosecution documents state.
The Herald Sun understands that Arico has been living in a luxury Eureka Tower apartment.
Mitchell was shot outside Doherty’s Gym in Brunswick, a crime that remains unsolved — although witness A at one point allegedly lied about being the shooter to impress Arico.
Victoria Police organised crime detectives attached to the Purana Taskforce investigated underworld figure Gavin Preston and associate Nabil Maghnie over the near fatal attack.
Mitchell has sworn revenge over the shooting, which cost him a kidney and half a liver.
Despite Witness A’s drug courier work, Arico allegedly firebombed houses connected to him.
He also placed a fraudulent caveat over his home, assaulted him and threatened family members in an attempt to recover the money.
During their last meeting over the debt, Arico allegedly threatened Witness A’s wife’s brother.
“You’re a f------ liar and your missus is a f------ liar and youse’ll pay for it ... you’re not going to suffer, she will, believe me,” he allegedly said.
“Bring her here to fix it, the lying f------ dog that she is, both youse,” prosecutions documents allege Arico said.
Arico yesterday pleaded not guilty to extortion, violence and drug offences after being ordered to stand trial by magistrate Phillip Goldberg .
Magistrate Goldberg said Witness A was an admitted drug dealer who had received inducements from the DPP, but said doubts he had about his evidence was a matter for a jury.
“This is a case that relies upon the jury accepting or rejecting the evidence of a witness who is a drug dealer,” Mr Goldberg said.
Bruce Walmsley, QC, for Arico, complained to the court that police had harassed his client’s wife, Franki, by showing her “distressing” text messages on her husband’s phone.
Arico has amassed a fortune in recent years, telling the Herald Sun he had worked hard at developing properties and was a lucky gambler.
The Arico family have owned Cafe Trevi in Lygon St.
Arico was ordered to appear at a County Court directions hearing on Monday.