Less than a year after being the star crown witness at Ron Medich's murder trial, Lucky Gattellari has been found guilty of demanding up to $50 million from the property tycoon in return for tainting his evidence.
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Gattellari admitted becoming "extremely bitter" towards Medich and said he "hated his guts", testifying that the money demands were actually an attempt to trap him into accepting a bribe.
"I would love to get this prick Medich with his hands in the till paying me off" the now 68-year-old wrote in a note to police.
But the NSW District Court jury on Tuesday decided it wasn't just a trap but a bid to make money from his wealthy ex-confidant.
Gattellari was found guilty of conspiring in 2013 and 2014 to defraud Medich, who had been arrested for the 2009 execution-style murder of his Sydney business foe Michael McGurk.
Gattellari's one-time cellmate, Shayne Hatfield, 53, was found guilty of being part of the second plot, which also involved disgraced former police officers Roger Rogerson and Glen McNamara.
Prosecutor Darren Robinson contended that Gattellari had a ""continuing objective" to obtain money through approaches to Medich's family regarding evidence he would give as a crown witness in Medich's murder prosecution.
The prosecutor challenged Gattellari's claim that no one was to get any money out of the plot, that "I never once intended to take one cent from Ron Medich" and police would be involved to catch Medich.
"The plan always was that the money would be paid and that it would be divided up between the various participants," Mr Robinson said.
Gattellari previously said his decision to become the Crown's star witness at Medich's trial came after the property developer refused to pay out $1 million for Gattellari's bail and legal fees after he was arrested over the murder.
In April, the Supreme Court jury at Medich's trial accepted Gattellari's evidence that the businessman masterminded and financed the shooting of Mr McGurk.
But Mr Robinson had contended that Gattellari previously indicated to the Medich camp he was prepared to accept millions to throw that evidence.
The history of demands was said to have started at $1 million, increasing to $10 million, $15 million, $30 million and ultimately $50 million.
A self-described middleman in the first plot, former prisoner Robert McCarthy was secretly taped saying Medich was a foolish man who could have handed over "a pittance" to save himself.
"He'll never get to spend a f***ing dollar again," he was recorded as saying on one of many tapes played to the jury.
Gattellari has already served his minimum seven years six months jail term for organising Mr McGurk's murder, receiving a 60 per cent discount for his guilty plea and helping authorities
He and Hatfield will face a sentence hearing before Judge Penelope Hock on March 1.
Australian Associated Press
