Exactly six years after Saso Ristevski was gunned down in front of his parent’s Lake Heights home, the state’s Homicide Squad will today put out another appeal for information on his death.
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On September 28, 2011, the 37-year-old was at his parents’ home on Barina Avenue, when he was confronted by three men about 8.30pm.
He was shot and died at the scene.
Two men – Lloyd Murrell and Talatau Amone – have previously been charged in relation to the incident. They remain before the courts.
Strike Force Calligan, established to investigate a series of linked Illawarra murders around the same time, has been appealing for information to identify another man believed to have been in the area at the time of the murder.
At the time of the incident, the man was described as being aged in his 30s, of Mediterranean/Middle Eastern appearance, with an olive complexion, about 185-190cm tall, and a with muscular build.
The Homicide Squad’s Detective Chief Inspector David Laidlaw said investigators were still keen to speak with anyone who may be able to assist with their inquiries.
“Strike Force Calligan investigators are focused on providing answers to Saso Ristevski’s family, and we know there are people out there who have those answers,” Det Ch Insp Laidlaw said.
“Mr Ristevski was particularly brazen – he was visiting his parents – but thankfully, they were not seriously injured.
“In particular, we would like to identify and locate this man, as we believe he may be able to assist us with our investigation.
“Obviously, I would urge anyone who has information about Mr Ristevski’s murder to get in touch with us as soon as possible,” Det Ch Insp Laidlaw said.
Three months ago, the strike force revealed they had new information about the suspected murder of Unanderra man Goran Nikolovksi.
Nikolovski's disappearance came just over a month after his former associate Mr Ristevski was executed.
Homicide detectives said in July this year that they now believed Nikolovski, then aged 35, was lured from his home on Halloween 2011 by close associates or those who he would have trusted.
Det Insp Laidlaw appealed for anyone who was in the area near Mr Nikolovski’s house to come forward.
Nikolovksi and Ristevski had previously served jail time after the pair were caught by police with a large quantity of cocaine in 2004.
Their relationship soured and they had been in conflict after Ristevski gave evidence against Nikolovski during their subsequent trial.
However despite underworld speculation at time of Ristevski's death, police do not believe Nikolovski was involved in his ex-associate's murder.
Then in April 2012, Darko Janceski, 32, was gunned down in the front yard of his home at Berkeley.
With suspected links, the deaths of all three men have been investigated by Strike Force Calligan.
Kate McIlwain
For more than a decade, I've helped the Illawarra Mercury set the news agenda across the region. Currently I'm the paper's health reporter - covering the stories of Illawarra workers and residents in the wake of a global pandemic and at a time where our health systems are stretched to the limit.
For more than a decade, I've helped the Illawarra Mercury set the news agenda across the region. Currently I'm the paper's health reporter - covering the stories of Illawarra workers and residents in the wake of a global pandemic and at a time where our health systems are stretched to the limit.
