Melbourne gunmen jailed for 34 years for gangland murder

Jaeden Tito, 25, and Rabii Zahabe, 26, have been sentenced to 34 years in prison for the 2023 gangland execution of Gavin Preston in Melbourne. The Victorian Supreme Court handed down the sentences nearly three years after the attack at a Keilor cafe.

Justice Michael O’Connell described the incident as a “meticulously planned” contract killing characterized by a “ruthless and callous disregard for human life.” The court noted that while Preston had a significant criminal history, his life deserved legal protection. The attackers used a stolen vehicle to storm the cafe, where Preston was struck seven times. An associate, Abbas Maghnie, was also shot but survived the attack.

Due to their age, the men were not sentenced to life imprisonment. Zahabe will be eligible for parole after 27 years, while Tito will be eligible after 26 years.