By Jessica McSweeney
WARNING: Graphic content
In July last year, crime figure Ferenc “David” Stemler was gunned down on a Canterbury street. Now a young pregnant woman is behind bars, accused of playing a role in the alleged murder.
In the early hours of July 27, police found Stemler lying outside his home in Broughton Street with gunshot wounds. Despite the best efforts of paramedics, he died at the scene.
The 23-year-old woman has been charged in connection with the shooting of crime figure Ferenc “David” Stemler.Credit: NSW Police
Now almost seven months after the shooting, police have made two arrests in connection with the alleged murder, including that of a 23-year-old woman who police allege was a “lackey” who would carry out tasks to facilitate the alleged murder.
Police surrounded the woman in a car in Wetherill Park where she was arrested and taken to Fairfield police station and charged with Stemler’s murder.
She was formally refused bail and will remain behind bars until she faces Parramatta Local Court on Thursday, April 18.
Ferenc “David” Stemler was shot dead in a Canterbury street.Credit: AAP
Police said the woman did not know the victim and was not known to police at the time of the alleged murder.
“We’ll be alleging that she is part of the greater joint criminal enterprise in that she had knowledge before and after and engaged in acts to assist the principal offenders before and after,” Detective Inspector Virginia Gorman said.
Ferenc “David” Stemler.Credit: Facebook
Police are also expected to charge a 27-year-old man with murder after he was transferred from Parklea Correctional Centre to Riverstone police station on Thursday morning.
At the time, police said he was talking to two people when he was shot. He was facing minor drug charges.
Two burnt-out cars were found about the same time – one in Casula and another in Kingsgrove.
It’s expected there will be more arrests in connection to the shooting.
NSW Police’s Taskforce Magnus was established shortly after Stemler was shot in a bid to crack down on gun-related violence and organised crime in Sydney.
Police have now wrapped up the taskforce, but Assistant Commissioner Michael Fitzgerald said that did not signal an end to drug-related violence in Sydney.
“Whilst we have this insatiable appetite for drugs within our community, there are always going to be individuals who use violence to ensure they profit from the sale of drugs and at the end of the day, these murders all come about as a result of drugs being the primary factor,” he said.