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Millionaire and his dad accused of hiring hitman to murder ex-wives: court

A Melbourne millionaire and his father are accused of hiring a hitman to murder their ex-wives, a court has heard.

John Assaad applied for bail on Wednesday after being charged with conspiring to murder his ex-wife. Picture: Zak Simmonds
John Assaad applied for bail on Wednesday after being charged with conspiring to murder his ex-wife. Picture: Zak Simmonds

A Melbourne father-and-son are accused of conspiring to hire a hitman to murder their ex-wives, along with a Christian pastor who counselled one of the women to leave.

Police allege John Assaad, 27, conspired with his father to arrange the hits.

The Supreme Court of Victoria heard on Wednesday that both of the men’s wives had left them.

Police allege the dad said the separations caused “great shame and embarrassment to the family”, and investigators believe they were concerned John Assaad’s ex-wife would try to claim some of the family’s “considerable” assets.

John Assaad allegedly compiled a “dossier” that had his fingerprints “all over” it with key information, the court heard in his bail application on Wednesday.

Police allege his father passed the dossier onto a man to arrange the hits in a Bunnings car park.

He is alleged to have agreed to pay $40,000 per hit.

He allegedly said “I don’t feel relaxed until I take my revenge” about the pastor who had counselled his ex-wife to leave him, and allegedly said he was an Arab and “Arabs don’t forget”.

Victoria Police Purana Taskforce detective senior constable Cameron Mitchell told the court a search of John Assaad’s four bank accounts revealed he held over $1.2 million in cash.

He said John Assaad held a Lebanese as well as Australian passport, had extended family in Lebanon, and was a possible flight risk.

The Supreme Court of Victoria is considering John Assaad’s application for bail. Picture: David Crosling
The Supreme Court of Victoria is considering John Assaad’s application for bail. Picture: David Crosling

Sen-Const. Mitchell said a search of John Assaad’s phone showed he had googled “hitman” four times in the lead up to his father allegedly arranging the hit.

Prosecutor Neill Hutton said both Assaads held certain views on “the place of women in the household”.

Defence counsel Philip Dunn QC said police investigations suggested the father “supports the terrorist organisation ISIS” – but said there was “no evidence” John Assaad also held that view.

He said John Assaad should be granted bail on the condition the $1.2 million in his four bank accounts was transferred to a solicitor or accountant to be managed, and that he be made to wear a tracking device on his ankle.

He said John Assaad was “entitled to the presumption of innocence” and that it was possible his father had arranged the whole thing by himself in “very, very easy to explain events”.

“(There is) no direct evidence against him,” he said.

“It’s not his fault if his father has strange or aberrant views.”

Mr Hutton said John Assaad should not be granted bail because he had “demonstrated” a “willingness and a capacity” to get other people to “do things for him” even if he was being monitored.

John Assaad is facing eight charges including conspiracy to murder and incite murder.

Justice Lex Lasry is considering his application for bail.

Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/national/breaking-news/millionaire-and-his-dad-accused-of-hiring-hitman-to-murder-exwives-court/news-story/286c066761626710186aa69cfb6b8062