Sydney man charged with murder of Melbourne underworld figure Gavin Preston
A 22-year-old Sydney man has faced court accused of the brutal daylight execution of Melbourne gangland identity Gavin Preston.
A man accused of murdering underworld figure Gavin Preston in a daylight cafe shooting has faced court just hours after he was extradited from Sydney.
Jaeden Tito, a 22-year-old tradie, appeared before the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday – a day after his arrest in an early morning raid in Sydney’s outer southwest.
Mr Tito has been accused of murdering Preston at the crowded Sweet Lulu’s cafe in Keilor shortly after 10am on September 9.
He did not speak as he was led into the courtroom flanked by custody officers shortly after 5pm, with his lawyer Talal Krayem saying no application for bail would be made “presently”.
A police prosecutor requested a “longer than usual” adjournment given the complexity of the case, saying investigators were waiting for “outstanding” DNA and forensic evidence.
Mr Tito spoke to say “yes” when asked if this was his first time in custody.
He was remanded into custody ahead of his next court appearance in March.
Preston, known by the moniker ‘Capable’, was a long-term figure in Victoria’s gangland circles and had been released from prison earlier this year.
He had served his time for the 2012 “defensive homicide” shooting of drug trafficker Adam Khoury.
The 50-year-old had been eating brunch outside the cafe with Abbas Junior Maghnie, 26, when two men dressed in black approached, spraying the pair with multiple shots.
Preston died at the scene while Maghnie was hit in the stomach.
Two cars believed to have been used as getaway vehicles were later found burnt out in Keilor and Keilor Downs.
Homicide squad detectives investigating the “targeted attack” say the investigation remains ongoing despite the “key” arrest.
According to Victoria Police, Mr Tito was arrested at a home in Bradbury during predawn raids on October 25 at properties across Sydney’s southwest.
Footage of the arrest shows a shirtless man wearing red shorts calmly led from the home by heavily armed police.
After the arrest, Victoria Police Superintendent Janet Stevenson said the six weeks since the shooting occurred had been a “very challenging” investigation for police.
“This shooting was an extreme display of violence in a public setting and those involved had complete disregard for innocent members of our community,” she said.
“We will continue to utilise all our resources to find those responsible at any level and hold them to account.
“We will keep going until we find those people responsible for bringing violence to our community.”