An alleged associate of the Alameddine criminal network is accused of roles in planned hits on two high-ranking members of the Hamze family in as many months, a court has heard.
Samuel John Rokomaqisa, 32, faces charges including murder and conspiracy to murder after strike force investigations into two separate alleged gangland assignation plots.
Police say the targets were slain gangster Bilal Hamze, who was shot dead outside Sydney CBD restaurant Kid Kyoto last year, and his younger brother Ibrahem Hamze.
Mr Rokomaqisa was allegedly inside a black Audi about 10:30pm on June 17, 2021, when a hail of bullets fired from the vehicle killed Bilal Hamze, 34.
After the shooting, the Audi was found burnt out at Northwood on the other side of Sydney Harbour.
The Granville man is also accused of being one of two men sent to shoot Ibrahem Hamze just weeks later, in a failed attempt on the alleged crime figure's life.
It can be revealed Mr Rokomaqisa has been charged over both alleged murder plots after the cases were mentioned together for the first time in court today.
Mr Rokomaqisa's lawyer, Asem Taleb, today told the court that his client's other matters that are before the court "are somewhat related" to the fresh murder charge.
"I cannot proceed with this matter until the first matter is dealt with," Mr Taleb told the court.
The first matter includes offences such as conspire and agree to murder Ibrahem Hamze, armed with intent commit indictable offence (murder), drive stolen Mercedes, not stopping and driving recklessly during a police pursuit, robbery while armed with dangerous weapon, drive during disqualification period, participate in criminal group contribute to criminal activity and possess unauthorised prohibited firearm.
The fresh matter is murder of Bilal Hamze.
Following Mr Taleb's submissions, the crown requested that the matters travel together.
Magistrate Robert Williams voiced concern that some matters have "been before the court for 12 months" but added that he does “note the seriousness of the matters".
He was initially arrested last September, for the alleged conspiracy to kill Ibrahem Hamze, 27, at a North Sydney apartment block on August 14, 2021.
Police allege Mr Rokomaqisa was in a stolen Mercedes when it was intercepted en route to the property where Ibrahem Hamze was living at the time.
A court has heard the vehicle, fitted with cloned number plates, sped off after highway patrol officers attempted to pull it over for unrelated matters.
Police allege the car was abandoned in nearby Cammeray, where the two occupants stole a Toyota Camry from an elderly man at gunpoint.
Forensic investigations allegedly located traces of Mr Rokomaqisa's DNA in the Mercedes and Toyota, the court has previously heard.
The court also heard police claims he was linked to the Alameddine clan, a group alleged to be an underworld rival of the Hamze — sometimes spelt as Hamzy — network.
The Western Sydney man has denied these allegations in court, through his previous lawyer Zemarai Khatiz.
At the time, Mr Khatiz said an "opinion" that his client was linked to the Alameddines, included in police court documents, was not supported by evidence.
Last week, Mr Rokomaqisa was arrested and charged with the murder of Bilal Hamze, after what police described as a "breakthrough" in its ongoing investigations.
Mr Rokomaqisa did not apply for bail and will remain in custody.
His case will return to court in mid-November.
