HAMILTON—One of two men arrested by Hamilton police in relation to a 2018 homicide investigation into the death of Marko Bakir lived in Gore Bay prior to moving to Thunder Bay, where he was charged and arrested.
On Friday, May 20 Hamilton Police Detective Sergeant Steve Bereziuk announced the Hamilton Police Service homicide unit announced arrested 28-year-old Alessandro Giammichele of Hamilton in the first-degree murder of Marko (Mark) Bakir. Mr. Giammichele was also known as “Gino” and “Sandro,” and had lived in Gore Bay for a couple of years.
On Thursday, November 22, 2018 at approximately 8:15 pm, Marko (Mark) Bakir was shot to death in his own driveway at an address on Clifton Downs Road in the City of Hamilton. Police have continued the investigation into Mr. Bakir’s death for nearly four years.
Mr. Giammichele was arrested by Hamilton homicide detectives in the City of Thunder Bay on May 18, without incident. Mr. Giammichele is formerly from the City of Hamilton. He had a brief court appearance via video link in Thunder Bay and has since been remanded into custody in Thunder Bay.
25-year-old Abdelaziz Ibrahim ,a 15-year-old man, also of Hamilton, will also be charged with the first degree murder of Marko Bakir. Mr. Ibraham is currently in custody on related matters.
Hamilton Police Detective Sergeant Steve Bereziuk of the Hamilton Police told CHCH News in Hamilton on May 20, that the victim had been shot to death in his driveway in the City of Hamilton. There was one shooter. The police have continued its investigation for the past four years and that while arrests have been made, the investigation is ongoing.
Mr. Giammichele, “has been living in the North for sometime, the last couple of years on Manitoulin Island, and had moved to Lively briefly before moving to Thunder Bay. While in Gore Bay he had worked at Manitoulin Transport,” Detective Sergeant Bereziuk told The Expositor. Mr. Giammichele had been friends of the victim at the time of the shooting. He told reporters at the press conference that the murder motive had been of a financial nature. The incident had nothing to do with drugs, weapons or organized crime.
“The motive for the murder was financial in nature,” Detective Sergeant Bereziuk told The Expositor. “It had to do with money. There was a friendship between Mr. Giammichele and Mr. Bakir for a short time, but there was a falling out.”
The Expositor talked to several people who knew Mr. Giammichele while he lived here. While none of the acquaintances wished to have their names associated with the accused, he was described overall as a very friendly, nice guy who would help anyone out. However, as one person said, “he seemed to have life experience that you would think would be far advanced of his young age.” Another person said he “obviously exaggerated his life, and his career. He was a nice guy, but you always got the feeling something was amiss.”
“We had the assistance of the Manitoulin OPP and Sudbury OPP, as well as the Greater Sudbury Police Service and the Thunder Bay Police Service, and we thank them for their assistance,” Detective Sergeant Bereziuk told The Expositor. Mr. Giammichele was arrested in Thunder Bay last Wednesday. “We arrested and interviewed the accused in Thunder Bay. He was remanded into custody in Thunder Bay and will appear in a video court appearance on May 26.”
“The Hamilton Police is still investigating the case,” Detective Sergeant Bereziuk told The Expositor. “We are looking potentially for more witnesses. I have already had one call from Manitoulin island. Mr. Giammichele has been living there for the past two years and maybe he told someone something that he shouldn’t have. If anyone has any information we would like them to call us,” he said.
Detectives continue to investigate and are asking anyone with information in relation to Mr. Bakir’s murder to contact Detective Robert Di Ianni at 1-905-546-3836.
