A sensational series of arrests have been made 13 years after construction worker Omega Ruston was shot dead in an alleged road rage murder on a Queensland highway.
Police on Tuesday announced a major breakthrough in the 2009 Australia Day shooting of Mr Ruston on the Gold Coast, with Queensland homicide detectives expected to travel to Sydney to apply for the extradition of three men believed to be linked to outlaw motorcycle gangs.
NSW Police earlier confirmed the trio – aged 37, 39 and 43 – had been arrested in Sydney overnight, with each alleged to have been in the car that pulled up beside Mr Ruston on the Gold Coast Highway before he was shot.
All are facing court in Sydney on Tuesday.
Two of the men have been identified as Paul Younan and Haysam Hamdan, who were listed for mention at Parramatta and Central courts respectively.
A fourth man was also arrested in Brisbane, with police alleging the 45-year-old from the Gold Coast helped the suspects after the shooting 13 years ago.
He is due in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
Mr Ruston was killed on January 26, 2009, when he was driving with two friends on the Gold Coast.
It is alleged that the 32-year-old construction worker and father of two had been involved in a road rage incident with the suspects while travelling south on the Gold Coast Highway at Miami.
Ruston then pulled over and stopped his Holden Rodeo ute just south of the intersection with Fifth Ave at Burleigh Heads, exiting the vehicle with one of his passengers.
The second vehicle, a small maroon four-door sedan, stopped beside the car and two shots were fired from the rear passenger side window.
Mr Ruston was fatally shot in the stomach.
The maroon car was seen driving south away from the scene, with witnesses reporting seeing a passenger holding a pistol.
Detectives said in March last year they were investigating a possible link between Mr Ruston’s death and Sydney organised crime syndicates and outlaw motorcycle gangs.
Central to the renewed investigation were allegations that a firearm used in a 2008 drive-by shooting in western Sydney was an exact ballistic match to the gun used to shoot Mr Ruston.
NSW Police on Tuesday urged witnesses to come forward if they had further information – including people with prior links to outlaw motorcycle gangs – saying “relationships and loyalties change and people who were scared may no longer be”.
A $250,000 reward is on offer for information that leads to the apprehension and conviction of the people responsible for Mr Ruston’s death.
In addition, “appropriate indemnity from prosecution” will be offered to any accomplice – not being the person who actually committed the crime – who first gives such information.
Mr Ruston’s brother Nick thankxjmtzywed police for their persistence in pursuing the matter.
“We know there are people out there with information who can help with the investigation, we ask you to come forward and share any information you have,” Nick said.
“Omega’s spirit and presence touched so many lives, and he’ll forever live on in our hearts and minds. He loved his country and he loved all walks of life who were in it.
“His legacy is now lived on by his children.”
