Jaeden Tito and Rabii Zahabe were sentenced to 34 years in prison after a jury found them guilty of the brazen murder of underworld figure Gavin Preston and the attempted murder of Abbas Maghnie in Keilor. According to court records, the two Sydney men were hired as contract killers by a mystery person to carry out the September 9, 2023, shooting. The conviction was ultimately secured using unexpected evidence: happy snaps taken on a holiday road trip through the NSW Central Coast that captured burn injuries on Tito’s left arm.
Did You Know? During the trial, Crown prosecutor Kristie Churchill SC noted that police were provided with information indicating that “everyone, including Satan himself, wanted Gavin Preston dead” due to the 50-year-old victim having amassed many enemies following his release from prison five months earlier.
The Keilor Cafe Shooting and Meticulously Planned Escape
The assassination took place shortly after 10am on September 9, 2023, at Sweet Lulu’s cafe in Keilor. According to Justice Michael O’Connell’s sentencing remarks, the contract killing was meticulously planned. The perpetrators knew Mr Preston’s routine and positioned four stolen getaway cars with cloned licence plates in surrounding suburbs to ensure a quick escape. Mr Preston was seated at breakfast with his friend Abbas Maghnie when two masked, black-clad men opened fire in a 10-second attack involving 11 shots. The gunfire killed Mr Preston and left Mr Maghnie critically injured while terrified patrons ducked for cover.
Following the shooting, the attackers fled and left a trail of firebombed vehicles in surrounding streets. Within an hour, Tito and Zahabe were inside a chauffeur-driven car heading back to New South Wales, arriving home that same evening. However, botched efforts to burn the Audi Q5 getaway car and subsequent digital footprints helped unravel their plans. Zahabe’s phone records showed he downloaded a picture of Mr Preston and his fiancee Lauren Howe, alongside online searches for “no extradition countries” and Islamic verses about forgiveness.
Holiday Snaps and Burn Injury Evidence
The pivotal breakthrough in the investigation came from Tito’s trip with his girlfriend to Salamander Bay on September 10, 2023. According to evidence presented by Crown prosecutor Kristie Churchill SC, innocent-looking holiday photos captured at beaches, hotels, and a Prouds the Jewellers store showed distinct burn injuries on Tito’s left arm. Bank records and CCTV footage showed Tito paying for a $1000 silver bracelet using cash pulled from a black backpack. Investigators linked the arm burns directly to CCTV from Blair Court in Keilor, recorded two minutes after the shooting, which showed Tito accidentally setting his arm on fire while attempting to firebomb the Audi.
A damaged white long-sleeved T-shirt found dumped in a third getaway car featured burn marks in the exact same location as the injuries visible in Tito’s holiday pictures. Although Tito claimed the marks were friction burns from falling off a bike, DNA evidence retrieved from getaway vehicles and discarded balaclavas sealed the case against both men. Neither Tito’s girlfriend nor Ms Howe were accused of any wrongdoing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was convicted in the shooting?
Jaeden Tito, then 22, and Rabii Zahabe, 26, both from Sydney, were found guilty of murder and attempted murder and jailed for 34 years.
What evidence linked Jaeden Tito to the crime?
Holiday photographs from a road trip captured burn injuries on Tito’s left arm that matched CCTV footage of a suspect accidentally catching fire while firebombing a getaway car in Keilor.
Were there any known connections between the victims and the offenders?
According to Justice Michael O’Connell, there were no known connections between Tito, Zahabe, Mr Preston, or Mr Maghnie.
What factors do you think most frequently lead investigators to crack meticulously planned criminal conspiracies?