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Murder accused could be 'biggest loser'

A man accused of murdering businessman Michael McGurk could find himself the 'biggest loser' if he doesn't rethink his position, a Sydney magistrate says.

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Source: AAP


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One of two men accused of carrying out the hit on Sydney businessman Michael McGurk is the last man standing and needs to have a "deep and meaningful" about his position, a magistrate says.

Christopher Estephan has been charged with murdering Mr McGurk who was shot at close range outside his home in Sydney's lower north shore in September 2009.

Of the five men charged in relation to the killing, only Estephan and the alleged mastermind, property tycoon Ron Medich, have not entered guilty pleas.

Both Estephan and Medich are due to face a committal hearing next month to determine whether they should stand trial.

In a mention on Friday, Magistrate Jan Stevenson said to Estephan's solicitor Gordon Elliot that his client was in danger of being "the biggest loser".

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"Your client is the last man standing and he's the youngest and he is the one down the bottom of the ladder," she said at the Downing Centre Local Court.

Ms Stevenson said "someone should have a deep and meaningful" with Estephan between now and his next appearance on Tuesday.

"At the end of the day if he doesn't take some proper advice he is going to be the biggest loser out of all of this and that is going to be tragic," she said.

The crown alleges 65-year-old Medich enlisted the help of one-time featherweight boxing champion Lucky Gattellari to carry out the alleged contract killing after their business relationship began deteriorating in late 2008.

Gattellari then allegedly recruited three others - Senad Kaminic, Haissam Safetli and Estephan, who was then a teenager - to assist in the hit.

Earlier this month, Safetli pleaded guilty to his part in Mr McGurk's death, claiming he and Estephan had gone to the businessman's house and the then-teen had fired the fatal shot.

Mr Elliot is seeking an application to have Safetli called as part of the committal hearing as he wishes to cross-examine him.

He told the court Safetli had "glossed over" what he had asked Estephan to do and he wanted to determine what the older man had said in order to get Estephan to go to McGurk's house.

The matter will return to court next week.


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