Victoria Samba hopeful father Les’ murder will be solved

Victoria Samba is still hopeful the murder of her dad, horse trainer Les, will be solved a decade on.

Les Samba family with daughter Victoria, son Jonathon and wife Deirdre. Picture: Supplied

The daughter of slain horse trainer Les Samba says she still wants to know the truth behind her father’s murder a decade ago.

Victoria Samba says she thinks about her father daily and remains hopeful his murder will be solved.

Mr Samba, 60, was in Melbourne for the Inglis yearling sales when he was fired upon on Beaconsfield Parade in Middle Park about 9.35pm on February 27, 2011.

The fatal shooting of Mr Samba on a public road remains unsolved despite several leads emerging in the case.

Victoria Samba reflects on a decade without her father. Picture: Alex Coppel

The cold-blooded murder was probed by Victoria Police’s anti-organised crime Purana Taskforce, but the file is now with the homicide squad.

Mr Samba was shot once in the back before trying to flee across Beaconsfield Parade where he was fired upon at close range after collapsing.

Two guns were used in the shooting.

But a clear picture of what led Mr Samba to drive to beachside suburb Middle Park on the night is yet to emerge.

“It’s been 10 years without my dad,’’ Ms Samba said.

“What happened was so shocking it’s still often hard to believe and some closure will help my family heal.

Les Samba with Victoria and wife Deirdre. Picture: Supplied

“I’m hopeful to get to the truth of what happened to my dad.

“Bits and pieces of evidence that don’t add up still play on my mind.

“Maybe dad thought he was meeting someone he knew.

“It was on a Sunday night and at that time of the night, with the yearling sales on, there’s no way dad just happened to be there in Beaconsfield Parade.

“There was obviously a purpose.’’

Police have long believed Mr Samba’s murder was orchestrated by his connections but investigators have been unable to prove a clear motive behind the hit.

It also remains unclear why Mr Samba, from Adelaide, chose to drive his hire car from Crown Metropol, where he was staying, to Beaconsfield Parade that night after having dinner at a restaurant and speaking with acquaintances.

Mr Samba was regarded as an expert judge of thoroughbred racehorses having been in the industry since he was aged 14, but it was unusual for him to attend the Melbourne yearling sales.

Police believe Mr Samba was lured to Melbourne by his connections.

Detectives flew across the country to speak to people of interest over the murder but did not get to a point where charges could be laid.

Those investigated included figures involved in the racing industry.

Witnesses saw a man with long blond hair running from the scene along Langridge St while another man was also observed by witnesses crouching beside a tree on the footpath looking intently at Mr Samba and the offender.

A suspect was named in an anonymous phone call made to the homicide squad in the years after the shooting.

Police said the anonymous caller, who phoned from a phone box, was close to the perpetrators of the death.

A $1 million rewards is still on offer for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those involved in the killing.