Killer’s trail goes cold
Decade on, no clues to who shot dealer
RAIM Dalipi’s killer remains on the loose more than a decade after the Bell Park man was gunned down at his front door.
A summary inquest into the unsolved murder this week heard new details of Mr Dalipi’s sordid past, with homicide detectives revealing he was a violent man with a history of drug and weapons offences.
In the years before his bloody death, Mr Dalipi repeatedly beat his wife Saniye and she had fled their Nicholson Cres house multiple times.
The 58-year-old had a penchant for marijuana and “chop chop”, illegal tobacco, which police believe was a key factor in his death.
Mr Dalipi died on his loungeroom floor from a gunshot to the abdomen before paramedics arrived on September 8, 2005.
In a statement read in court, Detective Leading Senior Constable Leigh Smyth said the identity of Mr Dalipi’s killer remained a mystery.
“A thorough investigation was conducted by the homicide squad and despite their investigation, no person or persons were identified as being responsible,” Sen-Constable Smyth said.
The court heard the 58year-old lived with his thenwife after migrating from Macedonia with his son in 1972.
After settling in Geelong he had two more children before divorcing and travelling back to Macedonia in 1991. It was there he met Mrs Dalipi, who had five children from a previous marriage.
Her daughter Nezaket Dalipi, now Loci-Mustafa, later migrated and two other children followed.
The couple remained together until December 7, 2000, when Mrs Dalipi and her youngest daughter moved out for a year — before returning.
Leading Senior Constable Kelly Ramsey told the hearing that in the late 1990s Mr Dalipi reportedly started growing cannabis and became involved in the illegal tobacco trade.
He kept a large amount of cash at home and was burgled multiple times.
He was convicted of cultivating a narcotic plant, failing to safely store a firearm and manufacturing illegal tobacco.
The day before his murder, Mr Dalipi purchased a single bale of tobacco and moved it in a rental vehicle. He spent most of the next day at home, before going to the Norlane Hotel to play Keno between 7pm and 8pm.
“Nezaket collected her mother from Mr and Mrs Dalipi’s house at approximately 5.45pm, as Mrs Dalipi was minding her grandchildren at Nezaket’s house,” Sen-Constable Ramsey said.
“Nezaket dropped Mrs Dalipi home at approximately 10.30pm and went inside briefly to say hello ... before leaving at approximately 10.40pm to return home.
“At approximately 10.50pm, Mr Dalipi answered the front door of his house and a man entered.”
The court was told Mrs Dalipi heard the men talking in Croatian. The mystery man asked for 0.5kg and was told 1kg would cost $140. He produced some cash but didn’t have enough to obtain more.
Mr Dalipi was standing in the doorway when minutes later the man returned with a second person who was holding a handgun.
Mr Dalipi was pushed around the loungeroom while Mrs Dalipi was threatened and forced to cover her head with a blanket as the men made demands for money.
She grabbed her phone and called her daughter for help.
“After Mrs Dalipi ended the telephone call, she heard a gunshot. On hearing the two men leave the house, Mrs Dalipi ... saw her husband standing unsteadily in the lounge room with a blood spot on his back,” Sen-Constable Ramsey said. “(He) fell to the ground.”
The court was told paramedics arrived at 11.20pm and unsuccessfully attempted resuscitation.
Mr Dalipi’s wife and stepdaughter yesterday sat in the courtroom alongside officers from the homicide squad and Purana Taskforce.
In handing down her findings, Coronial Judge Sara Hinchey said the coroner’s investigation would be reopened if further information was received.
She said that because extensive police investigations had failed to identify Mr Dalipi’s killer, a coronial investigation would also probably have the same result.
Anyone with information should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.