A jury has failed to reach a verdict in the NSW Supreme Court trial of a man accused of the 2012 shooting murder of Illawarra underworld figure Darko Janceski.
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Jurors were unable to agree as to the guilt or innocence of Matthew Paul Wiggins following a lengthy trial in Sydney and more than a week of deliberations.
They were formally dismissed by the judge on Monday afternoon after it became apparent the differences of opinion could not be resolved.
Wiggins is accused of gunning down Mr Janceski, a known standover man for the Comancheros bikie gang, outside his parents’ Gannet Avenue home on the afternoon of April 14, 2012.
It is alleged Wiggins rode a motorbike up to the house just after 5pm and fired seven shots in Janceski’s direction, three of which hit him, in retaliation for the disappearance and suspected death of an associate.
Janceski’s father, Slobodan,confronted the shooter outside the house with a metal garden stake, later telling police the man was a skilled fighter who ultimately got the better of him and escaped on the motorbike, however left the gun, his helmet and sunglasses behind.
It is alleged multiple different DNA strands were found on the helmet and sunglasses, however DNA matching that of Wiggins featured most prominently.
The Crown claims Wiggins was a mixed martial arts specialist who held an official competitor’s licence.
Wiggins was arrested and charged in January 2013 and spent 10 months behind bars before being granted bail on a $1 million surety.
That bail was continued in court on Monday. Under the conditions of his bail, Wiggins must live at an address in North Nowra, report to police daily and abide by a strict nighttime and weekend curfew.
The case will return to court for mention in February.
A second man, Robert Nikolovski, is facing a charge of being an accessory to murder. His case is still before the court.