A Sydney man has been placed under arrest pending trial for the execution-style shooting death of gang leader Gavin “Capable” Preston.
After being extradited from New South Wales earlier in the day, 22-year-old Jaeden Tito made an appearance in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday night.
Tito made a brief court appearance while wearing the red shorts he was arrested in, and he basically kept quiet.
He only acknowledged to Judge Julie Grainger that he was detoxing from cocaine and marijuana and that this was his first time being held in custody.
After shots were fired outside a cafe, Gavin Preston was killed and another man was badly hurt.
Security camera footage shows Preston falling to the ground as a hooded, black-clad shooter fled from the passenger side door of a black SUV and fired multiple revolver shots at him.
While the other man received emergency surgery for gunshot wounds to his stomach, he passed away at the site.
Detectives charged Tito with Preston’s murder after he was apprehended on Wednesday morning at his house in Bradbury, in Sydney’s southwest. On Thursday afternoon, he was sent to Melbourne by extradition.
The prosecution informed Ms. Grainger that there were 114 hours of CCTV material to review, and the police were requesting an extension of time to gather the brief of evidence against Tito.
According to him, detectives were also awaiting the outcomes of forensic testing.
Talal Krayem, Tito’s attorney, disagreed with the 14-week deadline, claiming it was unfair to his client who was detained.
However, Grainger stated that an extra two weeks was acceptable because the hand-up brief was typically served for a maximum of twelve weeks.
By February 1st, police must deliver the evidentiary brief to the defence. Tito was placed under arrest and ordered to appear in Melbourne Magistrates Court on March 14 of the following year.
