Convicted killer and millionaire property developer Ron Medich is a ‘person of interest’ in a separate unsolved murder of a horse-racing mogul.
Medich, 70, was found guilty of ordering the killing of his business partner Michael McGurk, 45, in 2009 and to intimidating his widow Kimberley the following year.
A Sydney court was told racing identity Les Samba supplied some of the $500,000 cash paid during the ordering of Mr McGurk’s murder.
Not long after Medich’s arrest, Mr Samba was found dead – having been slain in an execution-style killing.
Convicted killer and millionaire property developer Ron Medich is a ‘person of interest’ in a separate unsolved murder of a horse-racing mogul
Medich, 70, was found guilty of ordering the killing of his business partner Michael McGurk (pictured), 45, in 2009
Mr McGurk was shot in the head outside his north shore Sydney home in Cremorne after he pulled up in his car with a takeaway meal he had just bought for his family.
A senior detective told the Daily Telegraph Mr Samba would’ve been a key witness in the investigation into Mr McGurk’s death.
‘He could have been the link between the money and Medich,’ the detective said.
‘His death certainly didn’t hurt Medich.’
Mr Samba was found dead on Beaconsfield Parade in Melbourne in February 2011.
The father of two had gunshots in his head and back.
His death came just four months after Medich was arrested for ordering Mr McGurk’s death.
Medich has been named by police as a ‘person of interest’ in relation to Mr Samba’s death.
The pair owned at least a dozen racehorses together, while Mr Samba is believed to have had strong links to Sydney’s criminal underworld.
Mr Samba was found dead on Beaconsfield Parade in Melbourne in February 2011 (Pictured: Les Samba on CCTV footage the night he was killed)
Police believe two hitmen were involved in Mr Samba’s killing.
Before his death, Mr Samba was asked to appear the New South Wales Crime Commission for questioning regarding Mr McGurk’s murder.
Mr Samba was well-known in Australia’s racing scene, but had been banned from the sport in Victoria and was investigated by authorities in Western Australia.
The pair owned at least a dozen racehorses together, while Mr Samba is believed to have had strong links to Sydney’s criminal underworld
Before his death, Mr Samba was asked to appear the New South Wales Crime Commission for questioning regarding Mr McGurk’s murder
The source of the money used to pay for Mr McGurk’s killing is not known, but witnesses claimed it was provided by Mr Samba.
Police believe Mr Samba used a fake driver’s licence to fly to Perth in order to get the money for Medich.
Medich and Mr Samba were in New Zealand together to sell a horse just one week before Mr McGurk was killed.
Star crown witness Lucky Gattellari testified that his former close friend Medich had become very angry about his ongoing and protracted legal battles with Mr McGurk, involving millions of dollars.
Medich told him he had been made a ‘laughing stock in the eastern suburbs’, that Mr McGurk was ruining his reputation and he wanted Gattellari to find someone ‘to take care of this guy’.
Medich (pictured) and Mr Samba were in New Zealand together to sell a horse just one week before Mr McGurk was killed
Medich told Lucky Gattellari he had been made a ‘laughing stock in the eastern suburbs’, that Mr McGurk was ruining his reputation
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