Bulgarian man charged by Greek police over murder of Sydney gangster John Macris

Police in Greece have arrested a Bulgarian man in connection with the murder of Greek-Australian gangster John Macris.

Police in Greece have arrested a man for the murder of Greek-Australian gangster John Macris.

Police in Greece have charged a 31-year-old Bulgarian man with the murder of Greek-Australian gangster John Macris.

The man was arrested on Tuesday in a hotel in Glyfada, a neighbourhood in Athens, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

He gave a statement to police on Wednesday and was charged with the murder of Macris on Thursday.

Police are searching for the man’s 35-year-old brother who is also believed to be a suspect.

Last November, shocking footage of what appeared to be Macris’ assassination was published.

Athens newspaper Kathimerini published CCTV footage showing the last moments of the notorious Sydney gangster who was gunned down on October 31.

In the video, a man dressed in grey and black runs towards a black car while firing shots into the vehicle.

Viktoria Karida and John Macris at their 2016 wedding on the Greek island of Mykonos.

The publication chose only to publish parts of the footage but explained Macris had just got into his car when the shooter approached.

After being hit, Macris emerged from the car and tried to escape, but the assassin followed him and kept shooting.

Sydney gangster John Macris was gunned down in a seaside suburb of Athens last year.

Police said he was shot four times with a 9mm handgun and died at the scene. He was leaving his home in Voula when he was shot.

Sydney criminal lawyer Brett Galloway described Macris as a small-time drug dealer with aspirations to become a big-time gangster.

Mr Galloway said he represented Macris in court about a dozen times, mostly on charges relating to modest quantities of illicit drugs.

“He was a nondescript sort of dude who wanted to be a gangster,” Mr Galloway said. “He wasn’t a big criminal. He wasn’t well known like some of the hoods around town,” he added.

Macris’ life of crime did not appear to be a financial success, the lawyer said.

“I wouldn’t call Johnnie a generous man with his money,” Mr Galloway said. “If you want to be a gangster, someone takes your spot eventually. That’s how it goes.”

Originally published as Bulgarian man charged by Greek police over murder of Sydney gangster John Macris