Police charge five over Robert Issa killing, shot dead at Craigieburn Central shopping centre

Police have charged five people with murder over the brazen daylight killing of bikie-linked Robert Issa, gunned down in the car park of the Craigieburn Central shopping centre in 2023.

Five men arrested over the fatal shooting of Robert Issa have been charged with murder.

Four of the men, Fabio Perrone, Dion Perrone, Christian Behrndt and Bechara Bayrouty, all appeared in Melbourne Magistrates’ court late on Thursday.

No applications for bail were heard and all four men were remanded into custody, set to next appear on December 4.

Charge sheets show they have been charged with murdering Robert Issa.

Police fought to uphold an order allowing them extra time to review and compile evidence critical to their two-year long investigation into the alleged murder of Mr Issa.

Lawyers for two of the accused – the two Mr Perrones – fought the requested extension.

However, Detective Senior Constable Kate Shell told the court police would require an extra time to assess and compile the evidence, which included several devices seized following the arrests.

CCTV, DNA and telecommunications data is also said to form part of the vast brief of evidence.

Lawyers for all four men stressed that this was their clients’ first time in custody, with Mr Bayrouty requesting to be seen by a nurse at the earliest convenience.

The arrests of the four men come almost two years after 27-year-old Issa, who had links to Melbourne’s underworld, was gunned down in the car park of Craigieburn Central in October 2023.

He was sitting in a white Mercedes in the shopping centre’s car park when the gunmen pumped a round of bullets into the car, killing Issa and wounding his friend Eric Catanese before speeding away in a black Range Rover about 3pm on October 7.

Detectives found that car torched nearby in Westmeadows a short time later.

Motives behind Issa’s killing remained unclear, but the Herald Sun revealed in the wake of his death that he had become embroiled in a dispute with a major crime syndicate.

Issa was believed to have been close to a Comanchero-linked figure who has been involved in ferocious conflict and was suspected of involvement in a series of tit-for-tat firebombings on businesses and homes across Melbourne.

The arrests come almost two years after Robert Issa was gunned down in the car park of Craigieburn Central. Picture: David Caird

Underworld sources also told the Herald Sun Mr Issa had fallen out with an underworld figure who was heavily involved in Victoria’s drug trade in the lead-up to his murder.

Police arrested a 29-year-old from Kew, a 31-year-old from Mickleham, a 33-year-old from Pascoe Vale and two 26-year-old men from Fawkner about 6am on Thursday morning.

Detective Inspector Dean Thomas of the Homicide Squad said the arrest blitz was just the beginning of uncovering heavier hitters involved in Issa’s murder.

Underworld sources told the Herald Sun Mr Issa had fallen out with an underworld figure who was heavily involved in Victoria’s drug trade in the lead-up to his murder. Picture: Supplied

“We believe these men were likely the foot soldiers who carried out the murder, but we believe there are also people further up the chain who are responsible for ordering this attack,” he said.

“This shooting was incredibly violent and it played out in a shopping centre carpark in the middle of the afternoon on a Saturday.

“It is completely unacceptable that innocent members of the public were exposed to this level of potential harm.

“It shows immense disregard for human life and it could have ended in the deaths of more people.”

Detective Inspector Thomas said investigators were exploring several potential motives for the shocking daylight hit, which unfolded in front of families and innocent shoppers.

He confirmed one line of inquiry was whether Issa’s death was linked to Victoria’s tobacco wars and his possible attempts to break into the lucrative black market trade, but would not be drawn on how Issa’s killer planned his ambush.

Issa was gunned down in the carpark of Craigieburn Central. Picture: David Caird

Issa’s suspected bikie links will also be probed by detectives.

There is a possibility that some of the men arrested on Thursday were involved in a drive-by shooting at Issa’s parents’ Craigieburn home in the lead-up to his death, but Detective Inspector Thomas would not say whether any of the men were known to police.

“We look at what other crimes have occurred to try and piece together what’s going on and what has led to it, and to try and give us an understanding of the motive,” he said.

Detective Inspector Thomas said Issa’s family remained devastated by his execution.

“They’ve lost a son, a sibling. Nobody wants to see a loved one … their life end in this way,” he said.

Detective Inspector Thomas said the investigation was far from over, issuing a warning for others who may have been involved.

“We will do everything we can to hold accountable every single person involved in this shooting,” he said.

“You know you are part of that chain, now is the time for you to come and speak to us, because this may be your last opportunity.”

The five men were due to face the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday afternoon.

Originally published as Police charge five over Robert Issa killing, shot dead at Craigieburn Central shopping centre