Death On Sydney Road

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October 06 , 2008

A man was found dead and covered in blood in the middle of a road in Sydney's south last night - but he was not hit by a car , police said , a number of Triple-0 calls were made after the man was spotted lying on South Street Tempe just before 9pm , bleeding from a head wound.

Officers tried to resuscitate the man but he was pronouncded dead by paramedics a short time later. A NSW Police spokesman said the death is being treated as suspicious and would not release any details about the man's identity last night , Forensic experts searched the scene and officers were last night scouring nearby parks and bushland for clues.

Above information was supplied by dailytelegraph.com.au

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Seems this guy is a bad boy story is as follows

A one-time Kings Cross strip club manager questioned during the Wood Royal Commission over his role in the drug trade has been found shot dead in an apparent gangland hit , Todd Anthony O'Connor an Associate of several of the Cross's most notorious characters and long time police target , was found dead in South Street , Tempe ,during Sunday night's Rugby League Grand Final.

O'Connor was found lying dead on his back , blood running from his heaad and a set of car key's in his right hand , Detectives from both the Homicide and Gangs squads were involved in the investigation of O'Connor's death."The man had car keys in his hand and it looked like he was trying to get to his car ," a local who found his body told the Herald.

A silver late-model sedan , believed to be his car , was parked only metres away , near a large area of scrubland backing onto Sydney Airport. Police have yet to state the cause of death , but it is believed O'Connor was shot at least once in the head.

One neighbour inside their home described hearing six shots - two spaced out and then four in rapid succession - about 7:35PM on Sunday. "At first i thought it was fireworks ," they said. "About fifteen minutes later there was a loud knocking on my front door which i thought was my partner coming home and i started going to the door but then i heard a woman banging and calling , open up , open up , it's an emergenecy."

The neighbour opened the door and a middle -aged woman told her to call triple-0". "She had been driving up South street with her kids in the car and she saw the body and pulled up ," the neighbour recounted. The neighbour took the cordless phone with her outside and called police as she went to see if she could help the person on the road.

"I was thinking what can i do to help the person ... but at some point somebody checked and said there was no pulse." O'Connor , lying on his back with "legs akimbo" and car keys still in his hand , had suffered catastrophic head injuries , the local said. "It [appeared] to me that he might've been shot in the mouth."

The late model silver sedan was parked nearby. Police would later block off the area and hide the sedan under a large tent-like blue tarpaulin , they said. The body was driven away about 3AM.

O'Connor , 42 , had worked in Sydney's red light district since he was 17 as a bouncer , doorman , and manager.

During testimony at the Wood Royal Commission in 1995 he said he had worked as a manager at the Pink Panther , Pink Pussycat , Stripperama and "on the door" at Porkies.

"I hired girls and waitresses and doormen and made sure that no money was stolen ," O'Connor told the hearing.

In 1994 O'Connor was implicated in the alleged attempted bribing of a police officer by his some-time boss , Spiro "Steve" Hardas.

In recent years O'Connor was particularly close to one Kings Cross identity who well-placed police sources say has long been a target for his suspected large-scale drug dealing.

Above information obtained from smh.com.au

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October 8 , 2008

The gangland killing of a well-known Kings Cross criminal could heighten tensions in Sydney's underworld , as several groups vie for valuable drug turf.

Police sources say officers are bracing for a new outbreak of violence after Todd Anthony O'Connor 41 was shot dead in Sydney's south on Sunday night.

Strike Force Colbee , comprising officers from homicide , gangs and Middle Eastern organised crime squads , has been formed to investigate his death.

''[Gang members] won't just sit back after this ,'' a police source told the Herald. ''They have to do something. It's going to explode.''

It is understood several bikie gangs , including the Nomads , The Hells Angels , the Comancheros , and the Bandidos , have been vying for control of the drug trade in Oxford Street and in Kings Cross.Another criminal group that has recently emerged , Notorious , is also believed to be involved. Some police have linked Notorious to Mr O'Connor and a nightclub entre preneur , but other senior officers doubt that Notorious even exists.

The night after Mr O'Connors killing a group of men visited the site of his death. Two cars with about six men arrived about 11:30 , a neighbour said.

''There was a knock at my door and a youngish man in a hoodie said , 'We're friends of the guy who died.Can you show us where the body was? We want to put some flowers there.''' The neighbour showed them where she had seen the dead man and went back inside.

The men blocked off the intersection with their cars and spray-painted messages to Mr O'Connor on the road. They also covered a small concrete block with a message-covered T-shirt and left 13 bunches of flowers nearby.

Referring to Mr O'Connor as ''Doctor Toddo'' and ''Brother Todd'' , they left messages such as: ''To our brother Todd , u will never be 4gotten. Love always RIP 05/10/08.'' Three large candles were lit by the group.

Police arrived soon after and arrested the men. A 22-year-old manwas later charged following a ''graffiti-related offence''.

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Question is what news publication do you believe,below is an article by Kara Lawrence on the murder in Tempe

October 9 2008

Police a delving deeper into financial and business dealings of night club security manager Todd O'Connor as they seek to uncover a motive for his execution-style murder.

His friends and family lawyer spoke out in support of the dead man yesterday, saying O'Connor was not a gang member, police sources also said there was no obvious gang link in the murder investigation so far.

O'Connor, 41, who appeared in court numerous times on drug supply charges, was found shot dead in a street in Tempe during Sunday night's rugby league Grand Final.

Police believe his associates including a Sydney nightclub entrepreneur whose brother was a well-known member of the Nomads motorcycle gang. However, O'Connor was not a member of the bikie gang.

Yesterday, O'Connor's long time lawyer Stephen Alexander also said his client was not a member of the recently-formed bikie gang, Notorious. Mr Alexander said no judgments should be made about O'Connor while the police investigation was under way into his death.

O'Connors family is making arrangements for his funeral.

Above information supplied by dailytelegraph.com.au

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dailytelegraph.com.au exclusive Janet Fife-Yeomans Wed Oct 15

Hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash was left behind in the ransacked apartment of murdered Kings Cross idnetity Todd O'Connor , The Daily Telegraph can reveal.

Police investigating the execution murder of former Nomads bikie and strip-club manager found the money during a search warrant on the O'Connor city centre apartment.

Detectives with Task Force Colbee have studied the financial and business dealings of the father-of-four , 41 , since he was found shot dead in a street in Tempe last week.

With fears his death was a gangland hit , police are bracing for his funeral today with up to 500 family and associates expected at St Marys Cathedral in the city. Among the mourners is expected to be a Sydney nightclub entrepreneur whose brother was president of the Parramatta chapter of the Nomads outlaw motorcycle gang.

O'Connor also a member of the Parramatta chapter , quit the Nomads when the chapter folded last year. But he was believed to have joined another pseudo-bikie Sydney gang called Notorious which provided muscle around some Kings Cross clubs.

The ransacking of his unit rules out a random hit and points to someone who knew a lot about O'Connors movements , police told the Telegraph. It is understood that he moved into the apartment while his wife lives in Sylvania. O'Connor was well known to the police having been questioned by the Wood Royal Commission about his role in the drug trade , and he twice faced courts charged with drug dealing.

He was not jailed over either matter.

A police spokeswoman last night would only confirm that police with strike force Colbee , comprising officers from homicide , gangs and Middle Eastern organised crime squads , had executed a search warrant on an inner city apartment.

''Items were located by strike force detectives which have since been seized for forensic examination.'' the spokeswoman said last night.

''This is part of a standard ongoing inquires ,''she added.

O'Connor who suffered at least one wound to the head was found dead about 7:30pm on Sunday , October 5.

His funeral is not expected to be a full-blown bikie event as police have not been asked to provide an escort for a pocession of bikes.

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October 15 2008 By David Barrett dailytelegraph.com.au

Tension turned into violence at the funeral of murdered former bikie and Kings Cross nightclub security manager Todd O'Connor today , with a newspaper photographer punched in the back as mourners scuffled with the media.

About 100 people gathered at St Mary's Cathedral today to farewell O'Connor in an hour long service. O'Connors brother Mark told assembled mourners the father of three was a ''man's man''.

''It is a very sad day for all of us who loved him , "Mark O'Connor said.''

''My brother would have meant something to each and every one of you here today. We know Todd was a man's man.'' He also described O'Connor as ''polite'' and a ''successful businessman in his own right''.

''People who know my brother would have found him to be a man of his word and a very trustworthy companion ,'' he added.

''He always took the time to be with his friends. He was the kind of man who always opened doors for the ladies.''

A smaller then expected crowd gathered for today's service.

Amoung the mourners was a Sydney nightclub entrepreneur whose brother was a one-time president of the Nomads Parramatta chapter. A small contingent of uniformed police also attended-and about 50mourners formed a guard of honour afterwards.

But outside the church tensions were heated , with one photographer hit in the spine.

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Article found at dailytelegraph.com.au October 17 by Gemma Jones

It would seem almost impossible to miss , yet would-be thieves who ransacked Todd O'Connor's apartment didn't spot a duffle bag containing more than $600,000 on the bedroom floor.

Before he was executed in a Sydney street , the 41-year-old Kings Cross identity was ''living the life'' in a luxury Woolloomooloo apartment. The father of four and former strip club manager had sweeping views of Sydney Harbour from the fifth-floor apartment in The Domain building in Sir John Young Cresent. It's one-bedroom units command rents of more than $2800 a month.

And O'Connor was indeed flush. It is understood that $625,000 in cash was found in a duffle bag at his plush lodgings after he was gunned down in a Tempe Street on October 5.

Associates yesterday told the Daily Telegraph the bag of money was told the bag of money was found on the bedroom floor , even though the apartment had two safes , the Daily Telegraph yesterday revealed that police believe O'Connor's apartment was ransacked shortly after his death.

The apartment building has a concierge , so it is unclear how the would be thieves could even have reached the lift in the lobby. Residents accessing the building yesterday were using security swipe card to gain access to the foyer.

The city apartment a few blocks from the Finger Wharf and oppisite The Domain car-park , was maintained by O'Connor. His former wife and four children are understood to live in Sylvania.

A worker at the front desk said yesterday he had been instructed by management not to talk to media. Police forensic tests were under way yesterday on items seized during a search of the apartment.

A police spokeswoman said the homicide squad would remain tightlipped about the investigation and refused to reveal any possible motive. But it is understood police believe O'Connor's killer was familiar with his routine and movements.

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Article in dailytelegraph.com.au By Gemma Jones and David Barrett Oct 23-08

An executioner lured Moustafa Assoum to a Sydney street yesterday before shooting him at point-blank range while his wife and two children slept , his distraught family was woken and told of the shooting by the police , who are now examining the 26-year-olds possible links with criminal entities and Sydney's drug trade.

Mr Assoum who family friends said was a former Sydney airport security guard , was unarmed and had arranged to meet another man in Sappho Road Warwick Farm. He was in a white Subaru with associate Ahmad Diab when a Honda Civic pulled up about 1:45am a man jumped out and shot Mr Assoum in then head and chest.

The homicide squad and Liverpool detectives have formed a strike force that will profile Mr Assoum , his associates and any links to bikie gangs , criminal gangs and drugs. "People just don't meet other people and shoot them on a public street. We're not looking at two people that for whatever reason arranged to meet friends and one gets gunned down,'' a police source said.

Mr Assoums sister said the family was woken by police but by the time they arrived at Liverpool hospital he was dead , leaving them mistified. ''He was a loving dad , a loving husband , a loving son and a loving brother ,'' she said from her parents Auburn home yesterday.

She said her brother , a middleweight kickboxer who had dreamed of making a world title fight , had most recently been working as an architect in Auburn. Mr Diab , aged in his mid 20s raised the alarm and was in a distressed state after the shooting . There was speculation yesterday that the murder was an act of revenge but police said they were a long way from proving a motive.

It is understood Mr Assoum was known to police and had faced serious drug charges in the past. he was a prominent voulnteer at Lidcombe Islamic Youth Centre before it was closed earlier this year.

''I am absolutely distraught at the number of deaths that have taken place that possibly could have been prevented had some responsible leader within Auburn come forward and stuck to their word to help us keep our centre open ,'' centre spokesman Fadi Abdul-Rahman said.

Police have yet to draw links between Mr Assoum's murder and the execution style shooting of Todd O'Connor in a Tempe Street this month , or a drive by shooting in southern Sydney. Superintendent Gary Warboys said Mr Assoum was shot at close range. ''At this point in time there are no suspects and there are a number of lines of inquiry that we are following,'' he said. ''I'd describe it as a brazen attack .

''It certainly concerns me , as the local area commander , and we have any number of resources at this time trying to get to the bottom of it.''

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Article by Kara Lawrence at dailytelegraph.com.au Nov 8-08

A gang war over drug distribution in the Kings Cross area is believed to be behind the murder of night club security manager Todd O'Connor last month. And police are investigating possible links between the slaying of O'Connor 41 at Tempe on October 5 and another fatal shooting-that of Moustafa Assoum 26 less than three weeks later.

Also possibly linked is a drive-by shooting at a house in Sefton last week. The law-abiding occupants of the house peppered with bullets escaped injury - but a relative who did not live at the house may have been the intended target , scources told the Daily Telegraph.

Several well-placed scources , including those in the Sydney underworld , said the murder of O'Connors - who was aligned with an allegded crime family in inner Sydney - was ordered by a well - known Middle Eastern crime family based in Sydney's west.

This group had become aligned with the Rebels outlaw motorcycle gang and had decided to move in on a rival drug gang in Kings Cross , which had links to the new pseudo-bikie gang Notorious. While O'Connors friends say he was never a member of any bikie gang - including Notorious - police have not ruled out O'Connor having strong bikie connections and possible involvement in the drug industry. For the past few weeks , police have been on alert for any signs of violence between Notorious and the Rebels.

Yesterday , homicide squad commander Detective Superintendent Geoff Beresford would not confirm any of the alleged links. However , he said police had not ruled out a link between O'Connor's and Assoum's murders. He said detectives from Strike Froce Colbee were certainly open minded as to the motive behind O'Connor's death. Any shooting that has occurred either before or since the murder of O'Connor has been or is being investigated to explore (whether) there are any links.

Police said O'Connor was killed by two men in their 20s in a park on South St Tempe between 8:30pm and 9pm. Police are seeking sightings of the men , of medium height with short dark hair , in the park and driving a 2002 grey Nissan Pulsar sedan.

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Article at smh.com.au by Dylan Welck Police Reporter Saturday April 4 2009

Police have charged a Marrickville baker with the murder of a Kings Cross security manager and alleged drug dealer , Todd O'Connor.

Hugh jacobs , who has changed his name from Hachem Ibraghim , was arrested by detectives investigating O'Connors murder when he arrived at Marrickville police station to comply with his bail conditions from a previous charge.

O'Connor was found dead in the middle of South Street , Tempe , just after 8.30pm on October 5.

He was lying on his back , with blood running fromn his head , and a set of car keys in his hands.

The bullet wounds in his body were caused by two seperate guns , police said.

Police are looking for a second man in relation to the murder. He is described as 29 years old , 180 centimetres tall , of solid build and with short dark hair. He is believed to be related to Jacobs.

Jacobs , 27 , is part of the family that owns Ibrahim Pastry In Rockdale.

That business remains boarded up after it was firebombed several months ago in what may have been retaliation for O'Conner's murder.

It is understood that O'Connor had been pressing Jacobs in relation to money owed from the sale of two kilograms of cocaine.

Several days after O'Conner's murder police raided his luxury Woolloomooloo apartment and found $635,100 in cash in a duffle bag.

In criminal assets confiscation hearing relating to the money , an invstigator at the NSW Crime Commission alleged the money was part of a drug ring run by O'Connor and another man Famad Sada.

O'Connor . a 41-year-old father of three , began working as a strip club bouncer at Kings Cross when he was 17 , and had spent the psat two decades working as a manager of clubs , strip joints and security firms .

In the 1990s , during testimony at the Wood Royal Commission into police corruption , he said he had worked as manager at the Pink Panther , Pink Pussycat and Striperama and on the door at Porkies.

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Article found at dailytelegraph.com.au Author Lisa Davies Chief Court Reporter Date Wednesday April 15 2009

Nightclub security boss Todd O'Connor was allegedly collecting a debt of $380,000 on behalf of ''an associate'' when he was gunned down in a Sydney park.

The man accused of pulling the trigger can allegedly be linked to a phone call made to O'Connor just before his death.

But a magistrate yesterday ruled the case against Hugo Jacobs to weak to warrant him staying in custody while he awaits trial.

In Central Local Court magistrate Allan Moore granted Jacobs conditional bail despite the deatils contained in a lenghty statement of police facts.

"There may be a case for something but i'm yet to determine what ,'' Mr Moore said.

He set a surety of more than $200,000 and ordered that Jacobs report twice daily to police. DPP solicitor Karl Prince had argued against bail , saying there was extensive listening device and telephone intercept material.

''The facts indicate police have intercepted extensive telephone calls between the accused and the victim and details of meetings arranged ,'' Mr Prince said.

''Police also allege call charge records place him in the vicinity before and after the alleged murder.''

He told the court that police would allege that Mr O'Connor was ''collecting money from the accused for an associate in the vicinity of 380,000''.

Mr O'Conner's murder is said to have rocked parts os Sydney's underworld because he had links to some of the city's most powerful figures.

The 41-year-old was found dead from a gunshot to his head and body in South Street Tempe , just before 9pm on Sunday October 5.

Police claim they can link Jacobs to two mobile phone numbers - only one of which he admits owning.

They allege the other number was used to call Mr O'Connor just before his death.

The 10-second call included the words ''I'm in the park.''

However , the court heard Jacobs vehemently denied the claims and had provided alibi evidence to police , saying six members of his family could attest that he was in Marrickville at the time of the killing.

Mr Moore granted bail , saying the Crown case would rely on phone intercepts and electronic surveillance - much of which was open to a number of interpretations.

Jacobs was granted bail and ordered to leave home only to work at his uncle's tiling business in Rockdale , attend court , the police station or visit his lawyers office.

The matter returns to court in June.