Gangland murder accused appears in court

FOUR young men charged with the murder of Pasquale Barbaro have been denied bail by Sydney courts.

Pasquale Barbaro.

FOUR young men charged in relation to the murder of crime figure Pasquale Barbaro have been denied bail in separate Sydney courts.

Joshua Baines, 24, did not appear in person at Parramatta Local Court on Wednesday before Magistrate Gary Still and did not apply for bail, which was formally refused. He was given three weeks to enter a plea.

Baines has been charged with the murder of the underworld figure, and with participating in a criminal group to commit a criminal act with Abuzar Sultani, 27, Siar Munshizada, 28, and Mirwais Danishyar, 23, in Earlwood on the night of November 14.

The four men have all been charged with murder. Another, Jarad Prakash, 24, was charged with driving offences and participating in a criminal group. They are appearing in three Sydney courts following police raids carried out in connection with the Barbaro case.

Baines’s lawyer, Ljupka Subeska, requested the matters go to Burwood Local Court next month to “marry up with the various co-accused”.

Munshizada appeared at Burwood Local Court on Wednesday, charged with murder and participating in a criminal group. The 28-year-old sat in the dock wearing a red hoodie and with his hair shaved on the sides and pulled back in a ponytail.

Gangland murder accused Siar Munshizada.

Munshizada and Prakash, who was charged only with driving offences and participating in a criminal group, appeared in Burwood Local Court. Only Munshizada came up from the cells to make a brief appearance and be remanded until December 21.

Munshizada’s lawyer John Hajje did not apply for bail and it was formally refused.

Outside Burwood Court, Mr Hajje, who flagged in court that Munshizada may apply for bail by December 21, said of his client and Prakash: “They’re obviously in a little bit of shock. They are dealing with things.”

NSW State Crime Command have arrested a total of nine men in connection with the alleged crime syndicate.

Following the raids on Tuesday night, Strike Force Osprey detectives questioned men in relation to the murders of Barbaro, Rebels bike gang enforcer Mark Easter last year, and the murders of Rebels bikie Michael Davey in March this year and others.

Sydney underworld identity Pasquale Barbaro.

Sultani did not appear in person in Newtown Local Court on Wednesday and his lawyer did not apply for bail. Along with the murder charge, the known Rebels member was slapped with 17 charges dating back to 2013 including directing the activities of a criminal group, numerous counts of commercial drug supply, possessing an unregistered gun and conspiracy to murder.

Documents tendered in court allege Sultani plotted to kill fellow Rebels member Ricky Ciano at Wamberal on the NSW Central Coast in August 2015. He is accused of multiple cases of assault, breaking and entering and robbery and is also implicated in serious assaults and drug supply matters as part of a “larger criminal group”.

Court papers state police have found “vast amounts of money” in the 27-year- old’s possession on numerous occasions, despite his having no legitimate employment or means to support himself.

Other charges involve the alleged supply of almost 5kg of the drug ice and 1.3kg of MDMA since August. He is also accused of possessing 29 guns and more than 9300 rounds of various kinds of ammunition.

All four men were formally refused bail and will remain in custody until their next court hearing on December 21 at Burwood Court, where they are expected to apply for release. The others will face court over the next two months.

— With wires