AUSTRALIA - Bikie associate threatened murder witness – police

OFF THE WIRE
AN ALLEGED outlaw bikie gxxg associate is due to appear in court today (Saturday) charged with intimidating a witness as detectives turn up the heat in the investigation into the execution-style murder of a man at Mumbil in 1996.
Charles Avouris, 30, was shot dead at his home Railway Cottage in Mumbil, 25km southeast of Wellington, on or about Monday, July 1, 1996.
Despite extensive police inquiries, no one has been arrested for the murder.
Detectives are now looking at Mr Avouris’ associations with the local chapter of the Rebels bikie gxxg as a strong line of inquiry.
Acting on a tip-off, detectives from Strike Force Burrendong yesterday (Friday) raided properties in Stuart Town and Mumbil and arrested a 49-year-old man, police say.
A Harley-Davidson motorcycle, photographs and other items were seized.
The 49-year-old alleged bikie associate was taken to Wellington Police Station where he was charged with intimidating a witness.
The man was refused bail and is scheduled to appear in Dubbo Local Court today.
Police say the strike force team is moving closer to making an arrest over the killing of Mr Avouris, 30, whose body was found reclining on a sofa after he had been shot in the head at his home on or about July 1.
At the time of the discovery police described the death as violent “but not as the result of a struggle”.
“Detectives have been aware of Mr Avouris’ links to the Rebels for some time, but new information has come to hand indicating this could be the primary reason he was targeted,” Dubbo Investigations Manager, Detective Sergeant Mark Meredith, said in a statement last week.
“I would encourage anyone who can assist us with this line of inquiry to contact us, and you can be assured that information will be treated in the strictest of confidence.”
Detective Sergeant Meredith said police were also progressing with the re-examination of forensic evidence.
“There is DNA evidence that was found at the crime scene that does not belong to Charles Avouris and it is currently undergoing forensic testing,” he said.
“We have a number of potential persons of interest and with the technological advancements in DNA analysis, we are hopeful it could point us in the right direction.”
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