Bulgarian man accused of gunning down John Macris denies allegations and says he was on holidays

Bulgarian ‘hitman’ accused of following Sydney crime lord before gunning him down claims he was just ‘enjoying an ice cream during a Greek holiday’

  • A Bulgarian man has denied shooting John Macris at Athens home last October
  • Macris was getting into his car in front of home at Glfyfada before he was shot
  • Yuliyanov J Raychev Serafim was arrested last Tuesday and charged over murder
  • He told magistrate he was visiting Greece and was in the country for a holiday 

A Bulgarian man who allegedly stalked and gunned down Australian gangster John Macris at his home in Greece has claimed he was holidaying on the island.

The Sydney gang boss was gunned down while getting into his Smart car, which was parked outside of his home in Glyfada, a suburb of Athens, in October. 

CCTV footage shows a man dressed in black and wearing a baseball cap run toward the car before firing numerous shots. 

Yuliyanov J Raychev Serafim, 31, who has denied any involvement in the 46-year-old’s death, was arrested and charged with murder last week after allegedly returning to Athens on April 2 for another job.

Police allege Serafim is a professional hitman who was hired to kill Macris by an unknown underworld figure. 

The 31-year-old allegedly tailed Macris before his death, during which he was seen at a cafe. 

Serafim has denied the claims, saying he was on holiday at the time and had visited the cafe to buy an ice cream, The Age reported.

A Bulgarian man (centre) who allegedly stalked and gunned down Australian gangster John Macris at his home in Greece

John Macris is pictured with his partner Viktoria Karida

John Macris is pictured with his partner Viktoria Karida

Macris was a Sydney businessman who fled to Athens in 2013 and is said to have run a highly organised crime racket, importing massive amounts of drugs into Australia.

Authorities said Macris told friends he thought he was being followed in the weeks before his death and decided to carry a gun.   

Serafim’s lawyer, Alexandros Lykourezos, has argued that his client was not the shooter because ‘he came to Greece for a holiday, that’s all.’

Lykourezos is one of the most well-known and expensive barristers in Greece and replaced the Seraim’s former lawyer Apostolos Lytras on Monday. 

Serafim previously denied his involvement, after CCTV footage of the shooting was leaked

Serafim previously denied his involvement, after CCTV footage of the shooting was leaked

Serafim's lawyer, Alexandros Lykourezos, has argued that his client couldn't have been the shooter because the gunman seen in the video is 'thinner'

Serafim’s lawyer, Alexandros Lykourezos, has argued that his client couldn’t have been the shooter because the gunman seen in the video is ‘thinner’ 

Mr Lytras has previously argued there was not enough evidence to link Serafim to the shooting.

‘There is no DNA from the crime scene, no eyewitnesses, there are no fingerprints and there is no weapon,’ he told The Sydney Morning Herald.

‘Furthermore I watched the video of the crime scene that was leaked to the [Greek] media and my first estimation is that the CCTV ‘killer’ is much taller and thinner than my client,’ he concluded. 

A witness has reportedly identified Serafim in the footage.

Macris was laid to rest at Sydney’s Rookwood Cemetery last November. He leaves behind his model wife, Viktoria Karida, and their two young children, Alexandra and Achilles.

On Monday, his widow took to Instagram to post a heartfelt tribute to her partner with the caption, ‘Agapi Mou’ – translated in English to, ‘My darling’.

Macris was a Sydney businessman who fled to Athens in 2013 and is said to have run a highly organised crime racket, importing massive amounts of drugs into Australia

Macris was a Sydney businessman who fled to Athens in 2013 and is said to have run a highly organised crime racket, importing massive amounts of drugs into Australia

Authorities said Macris told friends he thought he was being followed in the weeks before his death and decided to carry a gun

Authorities said Macris told friends he thought he was being followed in the weeks before his death and decided to carry a gun

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

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

The night of John Macris’ death

  • John Macris was gunned down while getting into his car parked outside his home in Glfyfada, a suburb in Athens, on October 31.
  • He was assassinated when a black-clad man with a baseball cap raced to his car, shooting him four times in the shoulder. 
  • The attacker fired another two shots, hitting Macris in the chest as he lurched out of the vehicle, trying to escape.
  • A Bulgarian man – believed to be Yuliyanov J Raychev Serafim – was arrested last Tuesday and charged with murder.
  • Serafim told a magistrate he was holidaying on the island and had nothing to do with the murder.
  • Authorities said Macris told friends he thought he was being followed in the weeks before his death and decided to carry a gun.
  • In the leadup to the shooting, Serafim was spotted at a cafe and denied claims he was tailing Marcis. Instead, he said he was enjoying an icecream.
  • Detectives believe Serafim carried out the mission with his brother who they are now looking for. 
  • The suspect’s brother is wanted on suspicion of having helped plan the murder. He is also accused of driving the getaway car. 
  • Police believe Serafim and his brother brought new caps, tracksuits and shirts just hours before Macris’ murder. 
  • They then reportedly changed into their newly purchased clothes at a three-star hotel before driving to Marcris’ home and shooting him dead, police allege. 
  • It’s understood that CCTV footage captured the rental car used by the alleged killer, which allowed police to trace the car back to the rental company. 
  • Serafim and his brother are believed to have changed rental cars at least three times during a two-week period they allegedly spent tailing Marcis.

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk