Sydney: A millionaire property developer could die in jail after he was sentenced on Thursday to 39 years behind bars for ordering the killing of a former business associate in a wealthy Sydney suburb.
Ron Medich, 70, was in April found guilty of directing the 2009 murder of Scottish-born property tycoon Michael McGurk and for organising intimidation of his wife.
McGurk was shot in the head by a gunman in front of his young son as he stepped from his Mercedes in the harbourside suburb of Cremorne.
Medich and McGurk were involved in multi-million-dollar property and financing partnerships before the relationship turned sour.
"Directing and financing the killing of another human being is a fundamentally abhorrent and heinous crime," New South Wales Supreme Court Justice Geoffrey Bellew said in his judgement.
He also called Medich's decision to order the intimidation of Kimberley McGurk less than a year later "breathtakingly callous" and "inherently ruthless".
Medich went on trial last year but a jury failed to reach a verdict in the high-profile case.
A second trial kicked off in January, with a jury finding him guilty of both crimes. He will be eligible for parole in 2048.
Four other men have been jailed over the killing but police have never been able to prove who actually pulled the trigger.
McGurk made international headlines in 2007 when he unsuccessfully tried to sue the Sultan of Brunei over an alleged US$8 million agreement to buy a 400-year-old gold-lined miniature Koran.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Ron Medich, 70, was in April found guilty of directing the 2009 murder of Scottish-born property tycoon Michael McGurk and for organising intimidation of his wife.
McGurk was shot in the head by a gunman in front of his young son as he stepped from his Mercedes in the harbourside suburb of Cremorne.
"Directing and financing the killing of another human being is a fundamentally abhorrent and heinous crime," New South Wales Supreme Court Justice Geoffrey Bellew said in his judgement.
Advertisement
Medich went on trial last year but a jury failed to reach a verdict in the high-profile case.
Advertisement
Four other men have been jailed over the killing but police have never been able to prove who actually pulled the trigger.
Advertisement
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Watch: Andre Russell Breaks Travis Head's Bat In MLC Match. Australia Star's Reaction Is Viral India, Indonesia, Australia Resolve To Work Towards Free Indo-Pacific "He Won't Be There In Pakistan": Australia Chief Selector On David Warner In Champions Trophy Travel Influencer Aanvi Kamdar Dies After Falling Off A Waterfall Near Mumbai Amid Huge Row, Karnataka Pauses Bill For Reservation In Private Sector Firms "Assassination Attempt Has Sealed The Election": Trump's Close Aide Biden Says Could Drop Election Bid If "Medical Condition" Emerged Russia Says It's Ready To Work With Any US Leader 3 People Die After Drowning In Lake In Telangana: Cops Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.