A man accused of murdering underworld figure Gavin Preston in a daylight cafe shooting has faced court just hours after he was extradited from Sydney.
Jaeden Tito, a 22-year-old tradie, appeared before the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday – a day after his arrest in an early morning raid in Sydney’s outer southwest.
Mr Tito has been accused of murdering Preston at the crowded Sweet Lulu’s cafe in Keilor shortly after 10am on September 9.
He did not speak as he was led into the courtroom flanked by custody officers shortly after 5pm, with his lawyer Talal Krayem saying no application for bail would be made “presently”.
A police prosecutor requested a “longer than usual” adjournment given the complexity of the case, saying investigators were waiting for “outstanding” DNA and forensic evidence.
Mr Tito spoke to say “yes” when asked if this was his first time in custody.
He was remanded into custody ahead of his next court appearance in March.
Preston, known by the moniker ‘Capable’, was a long-term figure in Victoria’s gangland circles and had been released from prison earlier this year.
He had served his time for the 2012 “defensive homicide” shooting of drug trafficker Adam Khoury.
