Two men found guilty of Yusuf Nazlioglu murder

News.com.au

3 hours ago

Two men have been found guilty of the assassination of Sydney underworld figure Yusuf Nazlioglu who, it is believed, was shot dead over his refusal to return luxury rental cars.
A jury on Monday found Abdulrahman Mohamed Atteya guilty after prosecutors argued he was either the shooter or getaway driver in the June 2022 murder.
It followed a guilty verdict for co-accused Mohammed Hosni Khaled – who helped plan the hit man and driver's escape – on June 16 after a lengthy trial before the NSW Supreme Court.
A third man, Mohammed Baltagi, was found not guilty by the jury and walked free from the dock on Thursday.
Nazlioglu, 40, died when a gunman shot him eight times in the basement of a Rhodes apartment block where he lived with his wife on June 27, 2022.
The former Lone Wolf bikie member, who was himself acquitted of shooting dead ex-friend and Comanchero boss Mick Hawi, died the following day in hospital.
His wife, Jade Jeske, gave evidence of watching the shooting unfold as a hooded man ran toward Nazlioglu and opened fire.
'I knew that he was going to be dead,' she told the court.
'I didn't go and touch him or go over to him. I looked at him.'
Crown prosecutor Eric Balodis told the jury that Nazlioglu hired two Mercedes vehicles from a business in Sydney's west in May 2022, but failed to return them.
Mr Balodis put to the jury that this provided 'some explanation and motive' for his murder.
Footage played to the court showed a number of men wearing masks or hooded jumpers entering the Walker St, Rhodes carpark - where Nazlioglu would later be shot - on May 23 and retrieving one of the cars.
But three days later Nazloiglu stole the car back after his wife saw its owner streaming live on TikTok, showing the vehicle's location in the CBD.
CCTV captured Mr Nazlioglu jump out of a white Mercedes, which had also been rented, and run over to a black E-class before unlocking it, getting into the driver's seat and speeding off.
Messages shown to the jury during the trial, which began in April, revealed Nazlioglu's regret at stealing the cars and the drama it had caused.
'These two cars was dumb idea,' the associate wrote.
Nazlioglu agreed, saying it was 'the worst idea lol especially when there is money owed' before revealing he had been 'very emotional' recently.
'Sometimes I don't want to be around no more,' he wrote.
Both men said they looked like 'dirty c***s' among their associates, who Nazlioglu thought 'loved me and had a lot of respect for me' before what he called a 'straight rip'.
Mr Balodis said in his opening remarks that prosecutors did not allege the men on trial had personal 'animosity' toward Nazlioglu, and that his murder was organised by unknown persons.
All three men pleaded not guilty and denied any involvement in the shooting.
Mr Baltagi, 26, was released from custody after being acquitted on June 19, and could be heard to thank God as the jury left the room.
Atteya, 32, and Khaled, 27, were remanded in custody and will face sentence at a later date.
The court was told a man police believe was with Atteya at the time of the murder had since fled overseas.