Gavin "Capable" Preston, a 50-year-old Melbourne underworld figure, was murdered outside Sweet Lulu's cafe in Keilor on September 9, 2023, in a planned daylight shooting. His associate, Abbas "AJ" Maghnie, was also shot but survived. On May 8, 2026, a Supreme Court of Victoria jury convicted Jaeden Tito and Rabii Zahabe of murder and attempted murder. Both men received 34-year prison sentences on September 8, 2026. The court determined that Preston's assassination was a contract killing carried out for financial gain, although the person who ordered the murder remains unidentified.
Who Was Gavin "Capable" Preston?
Gavin Preston was a Melbourne criminal figure known by the nickname "Capable." He had a history of serious violence and connections within Victoria's criminal underworld.
Preston previously served a lengthy prison sentence for the 2012 fatal shooting of Adam Khoury, for which he was convicted of defensive homicide under Victorian law at the time.
He was released from prison in April 2023, approximately five months before his death.
Police later received intelligence suggesting Preston had numerous underworld enemies. However, those reports did not establish who arranged his assassination.
How Was Gavin Preston Murdered?
On Saturday morning, September 9, 2023, Preston met his associate Abbas Maghnie for breakfast at Sweet Lulu's cafe in Melbourne's north-western suburbs.
Preston was a regular customer who normally preferred sitting inside. However, the cafe's indoor tables were occupied that morning, so the men sat in the outdoor dining area.
While they were waiting for their meal, a dark Audi SUV approached the cafe.
Two masked gunmen dressed in black emerged from the vehicle and opened fire.
Preston was struck by seven bullets, including a fatal shot to the head. Maghnie was wounded in the abdomen but survived.
Customers and staff scrambled for safety as the attackers returned to their vehicle and escaped.
The shooting was captured by CCTV cameras, with the footage later becoming important evidence during the murder trial.
Who Killed Gavin Preston?
Jaeden Tito and Rabii Zahabe, two men from New South Wales, were convicted of carrying out the assassination.
At the time of their September 2026 sentencing, Tito was 25 and Zahabe was 26.
Prosecutors argued that the pair had traveled from interstate to Melbourne as contract killers hired by an unidentified person.
Both men pleaded not guilty and denied being the masked shooters.
However, the jury rejected their defense and found both guilty of murdering Preston and attempting to murder Maghnie.
How the Murder Was Planned
The prosecution presented evidence of an organized operation involving stolen vehicles, multiple getaway cars and arrangements for the attackers to leave Melbourne.
After the shooting, the gunmen abandoned the Audi SUV and set it alight.
CCTV footage showed one of the men accidentally catching his arm on fire while attempting to destroy the vehicle.
The attackers then used additional vehicles before traveling toward Sydney.
During sentencing, Justice Michael O'Connell concluded that the assassination involved extensive preparation and had been carried out for financial reward.
The court considered the deliberate targeting of Preston and the danger to innocent cafe customers significant aggravating factors.
What Evidence Convicted Tito and Zahabe?
Investigators assembled evidence involving surveillance footage, DNA, vehicle movements and electronic records.
CCTV and Getaway Vehicles
Security footage documented the gunmen approaching the cafe, firing at their targets and fleeing.
Additional cameras recorded movements associated with the getaway vehicles, including the destruction of the Audi used during the attack.
DNA Evidence
Prosecutors presented DNA evidence connecting Tito and Zahabe to vehicles and items recovered during the investigation.
These included clothing associated with the attackers, black balaclavas and a glove.
Phone Records and Internet Searches
Investigators discovered that Zahabe had searched online for information about countries without extradition arrangements and religious passages concerning forgiveness.
A photograph of Preston was also found on his phone.
Prosecutors presented photographs showing Tito with a bandaged arm after the shooting, arguing that the injury was consistent with the person seen catching fire in the CCTV footage.
The defense disputed the prosecution's interpretation of the evidence, but the jury ultimately found the men guilty.
What Happened to Abbas Maghnie?
Abbas "AJ" Maghnie was sitting beside Preston when the gunmen opened fire.
He suffered a gunshot wound to the abdomen and survived after receiving medical treatment.
The jury convicted Tito and Zahabe of attempting to murder Maghnie as well as murdering Preston.
His survival was an important distinction in the criminal proceedings, which involved separate murder and attempted murder offenses arising from the same attack.
Gavin Preston Murder Trial and Verdict
The murder trial began in the Supreme Court of Victoria in April 2026.
Crown prosecutor Kristie Churchill SC described the shooting as a coordinated underworld contract killing.
The defense argued that the available evidence did not prove beyond reasonable doubt that Tito and Zahabe were the gunmen.
Jurors examined forensic evidence, witness testimony and surveillance footage.
On May 8, 2026, the jury returned guilty verdicts against both defendants for the murder of Preston and attempted murder of Maghnie.
Gavin Preston's Killers Sentenced to 34 Years in Prison
On September 8, 2026, Justice Michael O'Connell sentenced Tito and Zahabe to 34 years in prison each.
| Convicted Killer | Prison Sentence | Non-Parole Period |
|---|---|---|
| Jaeden Tito | 34 years | 26 years |
| Rabii Zahabe | 34 years | 27 years |
The court credited Tito with 1,049 days of pre-sentence detention and Zahabe with 808 days.
Both men were declared serious violent offenders.
The judge emphasized the carefully planned nature of the assassination, the financial motive and the danger posed to members of the public.
Prosecutors had sought life imprisonment, but the court imposed fixed sentences with substantial non-parole periods.
Eligibility for parole does not guarantee release. Any future parole decision depends on the applicable legal process.
Who Ordered Gavin Preston's Murder?
The identity of the person who commissioned Preston's assassination has not been established through the verified court proceedings.
During the trial, police described receiving information about possible criminal rivalries involving Preston.
Some theories involved disputes with other underworld figures, but they remained unproven as explanations for the murder.
The prosecution established that Tito and Zahabe carried out the killing for financial reward without identifying the individual who hired them.
As of November 2026, no confirmed conviction has established who ordered the attack.
Why Did the Cafe Shooting Shock Melbourne?
The murder occurred on a busy Saturday morning outside a suburban cafe where other customers were eating and socializing.
The attackers opened fire in a public setting, forcing innocent bystanders to flee or seek cover.
Justice O'Connell considered the danger to members of the public an important factor when determining the sentences.
The shooting demonstrated the threat that organized criminal violence can pose beyond the individuals directly involved in underworld disputes.
Gavin Preston Murder Case Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2012 | Preston fatally shoots Adam Khoury and is later convicted of defensive homicide. |
| April 2023 | Preston is released from prison. |
| September 9, 2023 | Preston is murdered outside Sweet Lulu's cafe; Abbas Maghnie is wounded. |
| April 2026 | The Supreme Court murder trial begins. |
| May 8, 2026 | Tito and Zahabe are convicted of murder and attempted murder. |
| September 8, 2026 | Both men receive 34-year prison sentences. |
Latest Gavin Preston Murder Case Update in 2026
The latest confirmed major development is the sentencing of Tito and Zahabe on September 8, 2026.
The Supreme Court of Victoria published the sentencing summary under DPP v Zahabe & Tito [2026] VSC 572.
Both men remain subject to their 34-year prison sentences, with minimum parole eligibility periods of 26 and 27 years respectively.
No subsequent successful appeal or change to those sentences has been verified in the public sources reviewed as of November 11, 2026.
The person who commissioned Preston's murder remains unidentified in the established court record.
Conclusion
Gavin "Capable" Preston was murdered in a planned shooting outside Sweet Lulu's cafe in Melbourne on September 9, 2023.
His associate Abbas Maghnie survived the attack, while customers and staff were endangered by the gunfire.
After a lengthy investigation, Jaeden Tito and Rabii Zahabe were convicted in May 2026 and sentenced to 34 years in prison each that September.
The court established that the attack was a contract killing carried out for financial gain. However, the identity of the person who ordered Preston's assassination remains unresolved.