Shooting has case on hold

DRUGS charges facing a former MMA fighter and alleged enforcer known as the “Pit bull” and “Turkish Delight” have been adjourned following his shooting in an alleged home invasion.

Gokhan ‘Pit bull’ Turkyilmaz, 33, was shot eight times in the leg and the groin with a .22 calibre rifle at a Gold Coast house on Tuesday.

Turkyilmaz (right) is on bail for serious drug charges after being arrested in a major police operation in 2017.

He was among 12 people arrested in raids on 15 homes and businesses across Cairns, the Gold Coast and Sydney as part of Operation Papa Apaco.

Police allege Turkyilmaz, a former MMA fighter and tattoo shop owner, was the “enforcer” of an ice trafficking ring, funnelling large quantities of the drug into Cairns. His charges and the charges of his co accused were mentioned in the Cairns Supreme Court yesterday.

His defending counsel, speaking via telephone link to the court, applied to Justice Jim Henry for an adjournment.

“A complicating factor is that my client was shot multiple times in a home invasion and may be in a critical condition,” Turkyilmaz’ lawyer said.

Justice Henry agreed to list the matter for mention on March 14, with those of co accused Brian Stasiak – who faces further charges from Southport – and the syndicate’s alleged patriarch Wieslaw Stasiak.

The court heard that two defendants of the alleged syndicate had elected to proceed to sentence.

Counsel for Nicholas Dylan Wighton, Peter Feeney, said his client had agreed to a paperwork committal to the Supreme Court, saving the cost of a hearing.

He is in custody at Capricornia Correctional Facility and was listed for sentence on April 23.

Jon Robert King will also be sentenced but has other matters in the court, which were adjourned to April 29.

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