A third person is expected to be charged with murder over a gruesome alleged gangland slaying on the streets of Sydney, as one of the accused, a heavily pregnant woman, seeks bail.
Detectives from the NSW Police Homicide Squad arrested a man at Silverwater Prison on Thursday morning and are preparing to charge the 30-year-old with the alleged murder of Ferenc ‘David’ Stemler.
Stemler, 28, was allegedly shot dead in Sydney’s deadly gang war outside his home in Canterbury, western Sydney, last year.
In gruesome scenes on July 27, Stemler’s tattooed body was photographed riddled with bullets lying in the middle of the road as schoolchildren drove by that morning.
Last month, Strike Force Murrell officers charged a 27-year-old man with the murder, as well as 23-year-old Rhylee Peta Stig, who was not handcuffed at the time of her arrest due to her condition.
Mrs Stig, whose pregnancy is believed to be nearing term, is due to apply after Easter to be released from prison before the birth of her child.
Detectives are set to charge a third person with the alleged murder of David Stemler after arresting the 30-year-old man (above in custody) at Silverwater Prison on Thursday morning.
Rhylee Peta Stig, 23 (above), was charged with the murder and execution of David Stemler in Canterbury, western Sydney, last July and has been jailed for five weeks, but is now seeking bail ahead of the imminent birth of your baby.
The former Hunter Valley schoolgirl, who was arrested at her Wetherill Park home on February 21, was charged with murder and refused release on police bail.
He was then refused bail again at Fairfield Local Court when police said they “have shown no cause why detention is not justified”.
However, Ms Stig will now make an application for release next Tuesday before Justice Mark Ierace in the New South Wales Supreme Court.
Detectives say Stemler was shot dead as he approached a white Commodore Broughton street in Canterbury between 1.55am and 2am on July 27, 2023.
Police allege that the third accused now in custody was in the Commodore when Mr Stemler approached.
Stemler, who was heavily tattooed, was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics but died.
Just a few days ago, police released CCTV relating to Mr Stemler’s death showing a white Lexus, allegedly stolen in July last year, pulling into a Casula Central car park at around 10.25pm on July 18.
Police believe the driver of the Lexus was allegedly waiting for the planned shooting, who was seen being “checked” by a black hatchback on July 20 and again by a dark-colored hatchback on July 24.
Ferenc ‘David’ Stemler (above) was shot dead outside his rental home in Canterbury, western Sydney.
The schoolchildren were forced to walk past the gruesome scene.
New South Wales Police released a video of Stig during his arrest last month and the pregnant defendant has been in prison since – but now that her baby is nearing full term, she is applying for bail.
Rhylee Stig was denied bail when she appeared in court. She will be behind bars until at least mid-April unless she applies for bail.
Stig has been charged with murder
It is unclear who police will allege pulled the trigger on Stemler. His death occurred after encountering two men outside his rental home on Broughton St.
Local police, assisted by the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad, began investigations before Task Force Magnus under Strike Force Murrell took charge of the matter.
Task Force Magnus was established in July as a policing strategy to target and disrupt violent and firearms crime, and to investigate links between recent organized criminal activity in Sydney.
Deputy Commissioner Michael Fitzgerald said the arrests were important to the State Crime Command’s Magnus Task Force.
‘While the job is never truly done, this is a great feat for our Command, who was assigned the difficult task of breaking the circuit of brazen violence that we saw unfold on our streets.
‘Task Force Magnus complemented its capabilities set with both proactive and reactive teams, not only to target criminals, but also to prevent further acts of violence on our streets.
‘The safety of our wider community has been, and always will be, our number one priority, and the people of New South Wales our motivation to put together such a significant response; one that has evidently had notable success.
Investigations under the direction of Strike Force Murrell continue.
Police just a few days ago released CCTV of a white Lexus that they believe is linked to the alleged murder awaiting the planned shooting.