Sydney property tycoon to spend life in jail over ordering a hitman to execute a business enemy

Published on: June 21, 2018

Judge told Sydney property developer Ron Medich should be locked up for life
The 70-year-old millionaire was found guilty of the murder of Michael McGurk
Medich is due to be sentenced by Justice Geoffrey Bellew on Thursday

By Australian Associated Press

Published: 03:05 BST, 21 June 2018 | Updated: 03:15 BST, 21 June 2018

Sydney property developer Ron Medich is due to be sentenced after a judge was told he should be locked up for the rest of his life for directing an execution-style murder of a business enemy.

The 70-year-old millionaire was found guilty in April of the 2009 murder of Michael McGurk and intimidating his widow Kimberley McGurk almost a year later.

Mr McGurk, 45, was shot outside his home on Sydney’s north shore after he and Medich became embroiled in legal battles involving millions of dollars.

Sydney property developer Ron Medich (pictured) is due to be sentenced after a judge was told he should be locked up for the rest of his life

Sydney property developer Ron Medich (pictured) is due to be sentenced after a judge was told he should be locked up for the rest of his life

The 70-year-old millionaire was found guilty in April of the 2009 murder of Michael McGurk (pictured) and intimidating his widow Kimberley McGurk almost a year later

The 70-year-old millionaire was found guilty in April of the 2009 murder of Michael McGurk (pictured) and intimidating his widow Kimberley McGurk almost a year later

Late last month, a Sydney court heard the contract killing involved a ‘wickedness’ and callousness that warranted a life sentence.

On Monday, a fifth man was punished for crimes linked to the execution after pleading guilty to two counts of concealing a serious indictable offence.

But 50-year-old Bassam Safetli was spared time behind bars, instead sentenced to a suspended nine-month jail term and placed on a 12-month good behaviour bond.

Justice Geoffrey Bellew will sentence Medich on Thursday.

Mr McGurk, 45, was shot outside his home on Sydney's north shore after he and Medich became embroiled in legal battles involving millions of dollars

Mr McGurk, 45, was shot outside his home on Sydney’s north shore after he and Medich became embroiled in legal battles involving millions of dollars