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HP OPINION WHO PULLED THE TRIGGER? THE ANATOMY OF A HIT MUSITANO’S KILLING REMAINS UNSOLVED, WRITES STEPHEN METELSKY STEPHEN METELSKY Column pulled the trigger that idlled Pat Musitano? Halton police are searching for the answer to that t questior Hon. panned! " a said ees sergeant Trevor Bradley, who leads Halton's homi- cide unit. An even larger question looms. Who was the person group behind Pat's 'smurder? In the ‘under- world, the person or group versus the gunman who actually pulled the trigger are rare- ly one and the same. The dates aus with mafia murd hiring hitmen. Sele of their criminal organiza- tion to create an insulated border and disconnect be- tween the shooters on the street and the person | who issued the actual “hit." The experts agree. “In Canada these crimi- HALTON CRIME, CONFIDENTIAL, ogee * nal groups rely on street gangs or people they can hire," said Antonio Nicaso, a ee are at Queen's 's Uni- ersity, organized crime expert ‘and a author of more jooks on the sub- ject. "Whoever decided to kill the two brothers (Pat and Angelo) had stronger partnerships in the unde: world. They were more powerful than the Musita- nos." Nicaso believes Musita- no's murder in Burlington whether set up from within is circle of contacts or re- sulting from Pat meeting someone he trusted exter- nally. Nicaso added Musitano may have had a "false sense of security" with the public backdrop that the Burling- ton commercial lot at 484 Plains Rd. E. provided dur- "You feel you are in a safe location, so it is quite possible it was a trap from someone that knew him (Pat) or someone that he trusted," added Nicaso. The emerging modus operandi in other under: world murders — wher ‘was relentlessly trockea down and targeted for murder — has involved the use of technology, spe- cifically tracking a vehicle after a GPS device has been surreptitiously attached. "It is very easy to place at the bottom of the vehicle and then you are able to track them from a comput- er. It is quite possible Pat was followed. It is an inex- pensive (and covert) way to track down an en te) target you want to kill," added Nicaso. At the time of Pat's mur- der, he was still driving the when he was shot in Mis- sissauga and survived the attempt on his life. The other obstacle for police is getting anyone from the underworld to co- operate with authorities. Fear and intimidation still play a prominent role - whether someone is em- bedded in organized crime or not. Witnesses are difficult to come by. ‘Anything related to or- ganized crime is challeng- ing from that aspect," said Bradley, who sounded un. deterred given other ave- nues at the disposal of po- ice. "We are relying on our forensics, video and infor. mants or genni w an drum up around it ‘Those are the, prospects a rnd Halton police set up Graham Paine/ Metroland hortly after the killing of Pat Musitano. “The oath of Omerta, or “code of silence” remains a powerful force in the mafia.” solving these kind of inves- tigations." Yet, the oath of Omerta —or "code of silence" — re- mains a powerful force in the mafia. “Informant pivotal to es. Hor its are very solving these very few people in the Mob willing to talk or become a turncoat and that makes it more difficult to solve ma- fia murders," concluded Nicaso. Why was Pat killed in Burlington? It is yet to be centre was in ilton, the mafia has transnational. here are no defined borders around these sorts of crimes. An issue that happens elsewhere can quickly end up in Halton,” as did Pat's murder, added Bradley. become Regardless, thes« crimes still involve the loss of human life and the e present risk of an innocent bystander being killed. John Mans, a retired detec- tive sergeant, formerly in yharge of Halton's intelli- gence vition until 2017, concurred. "The value organized Own YOUR Moment BOOK YOUR [il]; OVERNIGHT GETAWAY [le 28 NIAGARAFALLSTOURISM.COM crime puts on human life is so insignificant with these criminals. There is no shortage of players willing to do the dirty work to make a name for them- Halton police looking to do just that - put a name to the shooter in this case. Have information about this) homicide? all the Halton Police Homicide Tip Line at 905- 825-4776. Tipsters can also pro- vide information anony- mously at Crime Stoppers: 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Stephen Metelsky is an him at HaltonCrimeConfi dential@gmail UONEH - dl UL | 2 Ey F Z FI a g 5 ys 8 8 8