The case against accused murderer Ron Medich is not strong, says a NSW judge, and he would not have to spend Christmas in jail after being granted bail this afternoon.
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The 62-year-old property developer has secured bail after his younger brother Roy offered to put up $1 million.
In the NSW Supreme Court, Justice Derek Price said that he was concerned about the lengthy period of time Mr Medich would spend in "segregated custody" before the trial, "when there is a reasonable prospect of a jury not being satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that he committed the offences".
Mr Medich will be forced to wear a bracelet that would monitor his movements as part of his bail conditions, and report daily to police.
Mr Medich and four others are facing murder charges over the shooting last year of Mr Medich's business associate Michael McGurk, who was allegedly gunned down outside his Cremorne home in front of his young son.
Police have alleged that Mr Medich paid his friend and business associate Lucky Gattellari $300,000 to organise the killing. Haissam Safetli and Christopher Estephan are alleged to have committed it.
The Crown's Mark Hobart, SC, had opposed bail, telling the court this week that the case against Mr Medich was strong and that the prospect of facing life imprisonment was a powerful incentive for him to flee the country.
Mr Hobart had also expressed concern about Mr Medich's ability to threaten witnesses, and said the motive for the killing was to recover millions of dollars he had lent Mr McGurk.
