For decades, the name Gavin Preston carried weight across Melbourne’s criminal landscape. Feared by rivals, closely monitored by police, and associated with some of Victoria’s most violent underworld circles, Preston lived a life shaped by danger, loyalty, and confrontation. His death in September 2023 — shot multiple times outside a busy Keilor café — sent shockwaves through the city and reignited discussions about Melbourne’s organised-crime networks.
This SEO-optimised investigation explores the full story of Gavin Preston, covering his rise, violent reputation, prison years, the fatal Sweet Lulus shooting, and the major court cases now unfolding.
Early life of Gavin Preston & rise through Melbourne’s underworld
Details about Gavin Preston’s early childhood remain limited in public records, but his criminal evolution is well-documented. By his 20s and 30s, Preston was already known to Victoria Police as a violent and unpredictable figure with deep links to Melbourne’s western suburbs.
Journalists and police sources often described him as an underworld enforcer — a man relied upon for intimidation, debt collection, and retaliation inside criminal networks. His reputation was not built on leadership or drug empire control, but on force. Those in Melbourne’s underbelly frequently spoke of him with equal parts fear and respect.
His nickname, “Capable,” reflected both his capacity for violence and his readiness to carry out high-risk actions. Though the moniker was never officially confirmed by police, it became widely used in media reporting and underworld circles.
The 2012 shooting of Adam Khoury-the crime that defined his legacy
In 2012, Gavin Preston committed the crime that would define his public identity. He shot and killed Adam Khoury, a Melbourne ice dealer, during a confrontation linked to disputes within the drug trade. Preston later pleaded guilty to defensive homicide, a now-defunct Victorian offence positioned between manslaughter and murder.
The plea acknowledged that Preston intentionally fired the weapon but claimed he believed he was acting in self-defence. Courts accepted the plea, and he was sentenced to 11 years’ imprisonment.
This conviction cemented Preston’s image as one of Melbourne’s most violent figures and placed him firmly within law enforcement’s highest-risk classifications.
Prison life-stabbings, control & a hardened reputation
During his time in Barwon Prison — one of Australia’s toughest high-security facilities — Gavin Preston developed an even more intimidating reputation.
In 2014, he survived a brutal stabbing attack in the prison exercise yard:
- He was stabbed nine times.
- He suffered deep cuts to his face and chest.
- A long laceration ran along his jawline, requiring urgent medical attention.
Surviving such an attack inside a maximum-security environment only reinforced his stature among inmates. Preston continued to be viewed as a forceful personality who operated with confidence and aggression, even behind bars.
The 2023 release-warning signs, enemies & rumours of a contract
After serving around 11 years in prison, Gavin Preston was released from Barwon in early 2023. His release raised alarm among detectives, who believed he still had enemies — some going back decades.
Media outlets widely reported rumours that:
- A significant contract had been placed on his life.
- Multiple underworld factions viewed him as a threat.
- Ongoing disputes could flare with his return to Melbourne.
It was also revealed that Preston still had ongoing legal matters at the time of his release, signalling that his entanglement in the criminal world had not ended.
Despite these warnings, Preston resumed life in the community — but only for a short period.
The Sweet Lulus café ambush-how Gavin Preston was executed
On 9 September 2023, at around 10:20am, Gavin Preston sat at a table outside Sweet Lulus café in Keilor Village. With him was Abbas Junior Maghnie, the son of slain gangland figure Abbas “Mad Dog” Maghnie.
What followed was a carefully planned, military-style execution in broad daylight:
- A black Audi SUV pulled up near the café.
- Two masked men dressed in black approached the outdoor tables.
- One gunman ran directly toward Preston and fired multiple rounds.
- Café patrons fled, diving for cover as bullets ripped through the seating area.
- Preston died at the scene.
- Maghnie was rushed to hospital in critical condition.
CCTV footage later showed the attackers fleeing back to the Audi, which was found burnt out shortly after — a common tactic in gangland hits to destroy forensic evidence.
The brazenness of the attack — occurring on a busy weekend morning — triggered widespread fear and raised questions about whether Melbourne was entering a new phase of gang violence.
Police investigation-cross-border raids & major arrests
The killing of Gavin Preston sparked one of Victoria’s largest homicide investigations of recent years. Detectives worked closely with NSW Police, tracking suspects across state borders and using phone data, CCTV, and vehicle-tracking intelligence.
First arrest-a 22-year-old NSW man
In October 2023, officers arrested a 22-year-old man from Bradbury, NSW, during early-morning raids across Bradbury, Campbelltown, and Yagoona. He was charged with:
- Murder of Gavin Preston
- Attempted murder of Abbas Junior Maghnie
Second arrest-a 24-year-old NSW man
In April 2024, a 24-year-old man already in custody in NSW was also charged and extradited to Victoria. Court documents named him Rabii Abram Zahabe.
Both men pleaded not guilty, and their cases were fast-tracked to the Supreme Court of Victoria.
Police maintain the attack was:
- Highly organised
- Carefully planned
- Linked to Melbourne underworld conflict
Authorities continue to search for additional suspects believed to be involved in planning and logistics.
Where the Gavin Preston case fits in Melbourne’s gangland history
Melbourne has a long and violent underworld timeline, defined by the gangland killings of the late 1990s and 2000s. Figures like Tony Mokbel, Carl Williams, and Mick Gatto shaped that era — an era marked by bombings, executions, and retributive bloodshed.
Gavin Preston represented a link between that earlier generation and the modern criminal landscape. While today’s underworld is more fragmented — involving bikie gangs, Middle Eastern crime groups, drug syndicates, and stand-alone crews — the motives remain similar:
- Territory
- Debt
- Revenge
- Power
The Keilor café shooting revived public concern about a new gangland war. However, Victorian officials emphasised that:
- The violence was targeted, not random.
- Ordinary Melburnians were at low risk.
- Police intelligence did not indicate a broader conflict was unfolding.
Media portrayal of Gavin Preston: fear, myth & responsibility
Coverage of Gavin Preston often used dramatic language:
“notorious,” “feared,” “underworld enforcer,” “execution-style hit.”
While these terms are part of Preston’s public image, ethical reporting must:
- Avoid glorifying crime.
- Distinguish fact from rumour.
- Emphasise legal fairness (e.g., suspects are accused, not guilty).
- Highlight community impact, not just criminal mythology.
Responsible coverage balances public interest with the reality that gangland violence affects real families, local businesses, and bystanders caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.
What Gavin Preston’s story tells us about crime & safety in Victoria
The life and death of Gavin Preston offer several lessons:
1. Violence follows reputation
Preston made many enemies, and those grudges carried over long after his prison term.
2. Prison does not erase influence
Even inside Barwon, he navigated power struggles, survived a stabbing, and maintained connections.
3. Organised crime adapts
Even as old gangland figures fall, new groups move in to fill gaps — often younger, more volatile, and more heavily armed.
4. Targeted hits still endanger the public
When executions occur at family cafés in broad daylight, community fear naturally rises.
5. Policing must evolve
This case showed the importance of interstate cooperation, CCTV networks, phone analysis, and rapid forensic work.
Conclusion
The story of Gavin Preston is a stark reminder of how deeply violence, reputation, and criminal alliances shape the lives of those inside Australia’s organised-crime world. From the 2012 killing of Adam Khoury to the 2014 Barwon prison stabbing, to the deadly 2023 café ambush, Preston’s life was marked by danger at every turn.
As two men stand accused of his murder, and as Victoria Police continue their investigation, the legal chapter of this saga is far from over. But one thing is clear: the rise and fall of Gavin Preston reflect an underworld that continues to evolve — and a city that must remain vigilant against the violence it can produce.
FOR MORE RELATED ARTICLES VISIT US AT AUSTRALIANMAGAZINE.COM.AU
Leave a Reply