Just days before he went missing, Goran Nikolovski was questioned by police over the murder of former friend Saso Ristevski, the homicide detective leading the investigation has revealed.
He also said police had spoken to Darko Janceski about Ristevski’s murder in the days before he was shot in the upper thigh at his Berkeley home on Sunday.
Acting Inspector Glen Browne, the homicide squad officer in charge of the investigation into Ristevski’s murder and Nikolovski’s disappearance, has for the first time confirmed a link between the two men.
He said yesterday that two strike forces created to investigate the cases had now been merged as Strike Force Calligan.
“We’re certainly not prepared to say the two are linked, as in the same offender or group of offenders are responsible for both, but we’ve combined the strike forces based on the link between the victims themselves,” Insp Browne said.
The Mercury first revealed a relationship between Ristevski and Unanderra man Nikolovski, 35, in November. Both men were busted by police in January 2004 for trafficking a half-kilo stash of cocaine and faced court the next year.
Although the two men were named as friends in court documents obtained by the Mercury, each claimed to be acting on behalf of the other.
Insp Browne said this discrepancy stirred bad blood between them.
“It would be fair to say that there were tensions between the two because of their previous criminal involvement,” he said.
Ristevski was sentenced to six years in 2005 for his part in trafficking the 500.3g of cocaine.
The 37-year-old had been out on parole for just over a year when he was gunned down in front of his parents at their Lake Heights home during a confrontation with three men on September 28, 2011.
Detectives say they found a “substantial” sum of cash at the scene and are investigating whether this could have been a motive for Ristevski’s execution.
Five weeks later Nikolovski was reported missing.
His burnt-out car was later discovered in bushland on Macquarie Pass.
Despite several large-scale searches of bushland across the Illawarra, no trace of the 35-year-old has been found.
“We’re still searching, conducting extensive searches in the Illawarra in relation to the Nikolovski disappearance,” Insp Browne said.
Although police had received information the Unanderra man had been murdered, until a body was found there was still a small glimmer of hope that he could be alive, Insp Browne said.
“Unfortunately, we’re not receiving information that suggests he is alive and is in any particular place,” he said.
Detectives have also investigated the possibility Nikolovski may have fled to Macedonia but have found no evidence he has left Australia.
Nikolovski was released from jail in 2006 after serving a non-parole period of two years and three months for his part in trafficking the half-kilo of cocaine worth an estimated $82,000.
Yesterday homicide police raised the possibility the shooting of Janceski on Sunday could be connected to the two unsolved crimes.
Janceski, 32, was shot outside his Barnes St home on Sunday and rushed to hospital after a bullet struck his upper thigh.
“Our strike force spoke to Darko Janceski a couple of days before he was shot,” Insp Browne said.
He said Nikolovski and Ristevski knew Janceski but Insp Browne could not confirm the nature of their relationship.
Two men have been charged with attempted murder in connection to the shooting, however, investigations are continuing.
‘‘They are certainly people that we’ve spoken to prior to this but we don’t believe they are involved in the other [cases].’’
Insp Browne said detectives were also looking into a firebombing attack on Mr Janceski’s home in November.
“It’s also something the strike force is looking at, the motive behind the firebombing of his house and how that may relate to the wider investigation,” Insp Browne said.
Although thought to be a member of the Comancheros motorcycle club, Janceski is no longer believed to have ties with the group, Insp Browne said.
He said neither Nikolovski nor Ristevski were members of a motorcycle club.
Police would like to speak to anyone with information on any of the incidents, particularly those who have anonymously contacted police previously.
Anyone who can assist should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. All information will be treated in the strictest confidence.
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