Dubbed as an underworld figure by Australian media, John Macris was murdered outside his Athens home in the suburb of Voula, in late October 2018 in an attack that shocked both Greek and Australian authorities.
The much-anticipated trial had been delayed since 2020 due to coronavirus and re-commenced yesterday, however, yet another turn of events derailed the conviction of the two men accused for his murder.
The main witness in the case was reportedly killed last Sunday by Mexican hitman Victor Omar, 44, who had just been released from Korydallos prison according to Proto Thema.
The hitman, who came to Greece as a dancer in 2005, and even participated in a reality show, had been arrested with four kilos of cocaine, and released from prison a few days ago. From there he allegedly went to Bulgaria where he received orders to execute the key witness in the Macris trial. Police believe that Omar was likely contracted inside Korydallos prison by those responsible for Macris’ murder.
Bulgarian brothers Yuliyanov J Raychev Serafim and Milen Raychev were arrested after police claimed they found clothes matching those in Serafim’s hotel room along with a receipt and evidence that he rented a Nissan Pulsar in his name, which was caught on CCTV footage six times in the vicinity of Macris’ home before the murder.
Greek authorities have linked the hit to a Canadian branch of the notorious Outlaws motorcycle gang. Serafim is believed to have links to Australian crime figures living in Canada.
The first day of the trial over the killing of notorious Sydney businessman John Macris took place at an Athens court on 1 July 2020 with the two Bulgarian brothers accused of his killing insisting on their innocence.
Macris’ widow, reality TV star and former Playboy playmate, Viktoria Karyda with whom the victim had two children came face-to-face with the alleged hitmen, reportedly sitting just a few meters away from them in the court room; she too has expressed fears for her own life several times throughout the trial proceedings.
