Convicted killer Kamil Yucel sparked AFL integrity alarm after being spotted in Essendon rooms

The Essendon change room visitor who sparked an AFL integrity alarm was convicted killer Kamil Yucel, a mate of delisted Bomber Nick Hind and part of the same friendship group as star forward Jake Stringer.

The Essendon change room visitor who sparked an AFL integrity alarm was convicted killer Kamil Yucel.

Yucel – jailed for shooting a man dead in 2016 – is a mate of recently delisted Bomber player Nick Hind and was part of the same friendship group as star forward Jake Stringer.

He was in the post-game inner-sanctum when Hind was approached by Channel 7’s Brian Taylor for his post game Roaming Brian segment following a win this season.

That sparked alarm bells at the AFL when it became aware of the identity of Yucel, who also has convictions for affray and intentionally causing serious injury.

The Saturday Herald Sun can reveal Yucel plead guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to five years jail for the shooting death of aspiring cricketer, Rahat Khan 20, at Dallas in Melbourne’s north.

Nick Hind in the Roaming Brian segment.

Convicted killer Kamil Yucel.

An Essendon spokesman on Friday confirmed the club had been contacted by the AFL’s integrity department about a guest in the room’s post game.

The spokesman said a player who the Herald Sun understands was Hind had been cautioned about that man’s presence.

An AFL spokesman confirmed the league had cautioned Essendon on who was receiving access to the rooms after matches.

Yucel was with Hind during the Roaming Brian segment after a Bombers’ win over Collingwood in round 17 on July 5.

“We’re just good mates, just met him a few months ago and he looks after me. He looks after me and Jakey (Stringer),” Hind said as he embraced Yucel in the Essendon rooms.

“He does plenty, we catch up at a cafe everyday. We’re from different walks of life.”

Hind was recently delisted while Stringer’s future is uncertain with a trade to Greater Western Sydney still on the cards.

Yucel was in 2018 sentenced to five years behind bars for the shooting death of aspiring cricketer Rahat Khan, 20, at Dallas, in Melbourne’s northern suburbs.

Jake Stringer and Nick Hind. Picture: James Elsby

A court heard Mr Khan and his mate, Masi Rawan, drove to Yucel’s street before the deadly altercation.

There was an angry verbal exchange before Yucel produced a gun and fired it twice, striking Mr Khan in the chest.

The kickboxer entered a plea deal on the day of his murder trial, under which he pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

Yucel had for at least 12 months before the Khan shooting been living in fear of underworld figure Farshad Rasooli, who claimed he was owed money.

In 2015, there had been a confrontation over the alleged debt in which a friend of Yucel shot Rasooli in the leg.

The bikie-linked Rasooli did not want police involvement but a court later heard he intended to get revenge.

Police documents showed they knew of Rasooli’s threatening behaviour and concern he may have Yucel shot.

Yucel was in 2018 sentenced to five years behind bars for the shooting death of aspiring cricketer Rahat Khan.

Yucel spent four months in Turkey trying to avoid him and, on his return, regularly changed addresses and avoided parking close to where he was staying.

On the evening of the fatal shooting at Dallas, Rasooli had phone contact with Mr Khan who travelled to the street where Yucel lived.

Rasooli himself became a target for a gunman in a failed hit a year later at Keysborough.

The bungling shooter instead killed 22-year-old Muhamed Yucel, an innocent man who had just left a mate’s house after a night of video gaming.

Hind, a dashing defender, played 74 games in the red and black after a career which began at St Kilda.

The 30-year-old is likely to continue his career at a local level as several country clubs have expressed their interest in him.

It is not the first time such change room guests have caused integrity shockwaves.

In 2013, there was drama at Richmond when underworld figure and former bikie boss Toby Mitchell was present with players after a match at the MCG.

Mitchell was a mate of then-Tiger forward Jake King.