NSW Police released footage of the arrest at Wagga Wagga Police Station. Photo: NSW Police.
Two men arrested in Junee and taken to Wagga Police Station on Tuesday after being charged over the high-profile alleged mistaken-identity murder of Sydney university student Marco Tapia will remain in custody after neither applied for bail.
Omar Mohamed, 23, and Vaifaalie Tuafuti, 22, were scheduled to appear before the virtual Bail Division court on Wednesday (30 September), a day after they were arrested in Junee.
NSW Police allege the pair were contracted as “hired guns” by an organised crime group to carry out violent acts, including the murder of Mr Tapia, who police say was not the intended target.
According to court records, both men have been charged with murder, two counts of aggravated break and enter with a weapon and possessing an unauthorised prohibited firearm.
A 16-year-old boy was also arrested in Junee and charged over the alleged murder, but cannot be identified because of his age.
Neither Mohamed nor Tuafuti appeared in person in court on Wednesday.
“Mr Mohamed is not required from my point of view because there will be no application for bail,” his lawyer told the court.
Acting Judge Margaret Quinn then referred Mohamed’s matter to Wagga Wagga Local Court for a brief status hearing, with the accused to appear by audio-visual link.
“Is the matter of Tuafuti going to Wagga as well?” Acting Judge Quinn asked.
The police prosecutor confirmed it would be.
Tuafuti also made no application for bail. Bail was refused for both men.
While the matters were initially referred to Wagga Wagga Local Court, court records show they have since been listed for a brief status hearing at Campbelltown Local Court on 25 November.
The men were arrested in Junee on Tuesday as part of the investigation into the death of 23-year-old engineering student Marco Tapia, who was shot during a home invasion in Sydney’s south-west on 1 September.
Police have since confirmed the wrong house was targeted.
Emergency services were called to a home in Glen Alpine at about 3:40 am after reports of a home invasion.
Police found Mr Tapia suffering from a gunshot wound inside the house. He died at the scene.
NSW Police allege the three people arrested in Junee were among those who entered the home, with one allegedly armed with a pistol.
“We will allege they were contracted as hired guns by an organised crime group to attend NSW and commit these violent acts, including the murder of Mr Tapia,” NSW Police Force Homicide Squad boss Joe Doueihi told media on Wednesday.
The arrests came after an investigation by the Homicide Squad under Strike Force Gareno.
Police have said Mr Tapia had no involvement in organised crime and was not the intended target.
His mother, Claudia Tapia, thanked police following Tuesday’s arrests but urged people to remember her son for his life rather than his death.
“We want people to know who Marco was beyond the circumstances of his death,” she said in statement provided via NSW Police.
“Marco was a warm, caring and loving 23-year-old, a biomedical engineering student, a committed Christian, a youth leader, a volunteer, a martial artist, a boyfriend, a brother and our deeply loved son.
“His death is part of his story, but it must never become his identity.”
Ms Tapia said her son had been studying biomedical engineering and working to encourage young people to engage with science and engineering.
“Marco was not simply a victim. He was our son, a brother, a boyfriend, a friend, a man of faith, a young leader and a biomedical engineer in the making, who was going to impact this sphere greatly.”
Mohamed and Tuafuti are due to appear by audio-visual link at Campbelltown Local Court on 25 November.
Original Article published by Oliver Jacques on Region Riverina.
