An Illawarra man accused of orchestrating the “revenge killing” of an ex-Comanchero bikie he believed had murdered his younger brother was secretly recorded telling a friend he would “kill this bloke with my bare hands”.
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Robert Nikolovski was reeling from the disappearance and suspected murder of his younger brother Goran on October 31, 2011 when police recorded him making a number of threats against Berkeley underworld figure Darko Janceski – the man he blamed for his brother’s apparent demise.
“He’s a f--king maggot mate, this Darko’s a f--king maggot, I’m gonna kill this bloke with my bare hands,” Nikolovski told a close friend on November 9.
The Crown alleges instead, Nikolovski remained at arm’s length by organising for one of his brother’s close friends, Matthew Paul Wiggins, to shoot Janceski outside his parents’ Berkeley home five months later in April, 2012.
Wiggins has since been convicted of Janceski’s murder, while Nikolovski is on trial accused of being an accessory before the fact.
Nikolovski admits he and Wiggins spoke – often passionately – about his brother’s disappearance, but denies he played any role in planning the subsequent shooting.
His lawyers claim far their client masterminding the shooting, the recordings show Nikolovski was considered a “loose cannon” by Goran Nikolovski’s Comanchero bikie friends, who had “sidelined” him while carrying out their own investigation into his disappearance.
However, private telephone calls intercepted by police and played to Nikolovski’s Supreme Court jury reveal Nikolovski himself was worried about his own mental state and what he was capable of doing in the days and weeks after his brother’s disappearance.
“You don’t understand what I mean, I am able, capable, very easy, at this current point in time to kill someone. Easy. With my bare hands,” Nikolovski said in a call to a friend, Andre James, on November 9.
“I’m too scared to even go to fight [boxing] with someone or something….because I’m just going to explode. Explode like a nuclear warhead on whoever the f—k steps foot in front of me, man.
“I know even if I call Darko or whatever...I’m just going to – if he says something wrong – [I’m] just going to explode. I’m scared of what I’m going to do and what it’s going to do to my parents.”
In other recorded phone calls, friends warn Nikolovski against doing anything he would “regret for the rest of his life”, however he tells them he doesn’t care.
“I’m close to just going ‘f—k the consequences, I’m going on a mission man. Finished. It’s millimetres away from that at the moment,” he said.
The trial continues before Justice Megan Latham.
Jury hears Janceski’s calls to Nikolovski
Darko Janceski repeatedly told Robert Nikolovski he was not responsible for the disappearance and suspected murder of his younger brother Goran in a series of telephone calls between the men that were secretly recorded by police.
In the weeks after Goran Nikolovski disappeared on October 31, 2011, Robert Nikolovski tried multiple times to organise a face-to-face meeting with Janceski but it didn’t eventuate.
However, they did speak at least four times on the phone, with Nikolovski reassuring Janceski on each occasion that he didn’t hold him responsible for Goran’s disappearance – despite telling close friends to the contrary.
In one conversation on November 10, Janceski asked Nikolovski why he was “spreading shit” about him being involved in Goran's disappearance.
“Bruz I’ve got nothing to do with your brother. I actually think your brother’s ran away,” Janceski said.
“Come and see me brother, I’ve got nothing to f—king hide, man.”
In the same conversation, Nikolovski assured Janceski if he blamed him for his brother’s disappearance “I’d be coming to see you immediately”.
Janceski again professed his innocence during another call between the men on December 7 and questioned a rumour he’d heard about Nikolovski organising a hit on him by a group of “Tongan c—ts”.
“It’s bullshit Darko,” Nikolovski replied.
“I don’t need to. When have I ever done anything like that bro?
“If I’ve got a problem with someone, you know, I’ll go see them myself mate.
“I’ve got no f—king problem sorting out my own shit with whoever. I’m not intimidated by anyone mate.”
