Feared underworld trigger man knowns as ‘Cross’ made a decision early in life that he would not be a man to be messed with.
Born in Iraq during the height of Saddam Hussain’s dictatorship, George Marrogi’s family escaped to Australia in 1996 – the year the United States’ ‘Desert Strike’ swung into gear with a massive missile attack.
By then, a six-year old Marrogi had already seen more death than any elderly Australian might see in a lifetime.
When his parents separated in his final year of primary school, Marrogi’s road upon the dark path was set in stone.
On Friday, Marrogi was sentenced in the Supreme Court of Victoria to a total of 32 years in jail – all of which he is likely to serve behind bars.
It had taken three gruelling trials for a jury to finally convict Marrogi of the 2016 murder of drug dealer Kadir Ors, who was riddled with bullets in an execution-style hit under broad daylight.
In what would be Justice Paul Coghlan’s last ever sentence as a Supreme Court of Victoria judge, the retiring justice said Marrogi had shown no remorse for the murder.
‘This is one of the most blatant examples of murder I have ever seen,’ Justice Coghlan said.
As he was led back to jail, Marrogi took a verbal swipe at the detective who had brought him undone.
Jail has been Marrogi’s home now for nearly more years that he has been free.
By 2004, an out-of-control Marrogi was charged by police with 14 separate incidents.
The following year he was charged with an armed robbery and released from juvenile detention on bail.
The very next day Marrogi would claim his first life.
It happened in the carpark of a McDonald’s restaurant in Roxburgh Park – just north of Marrogi’s stomping ground of Broadmeadows.
Marrogi was supposed to be tucked-up in bed, but found himself in the middle of an argument that escalated into a full-scale brawl.
Armed with a knife, Marrogi, aged just 16, stabbed and killed one youth and seriously injured another.
He stood trial for murder, but was convicted of manslaughter and intentionally causing serious injury.
Aged just months under 18, Marrogi copped a nine-and-a-half year sentence, but served a little over six.
His freedom was short lived and before too long he was back behind bars.
While on parole in 2013, Marrogi was convicted of recklessly causing serious injury and jailed again for another year.
The following year he was convicted of arson and had more time added to his tally.
On April 15, 2016 Marrogi once again felt the warm sunshine of freedom against his face.
His mother, Madlin, would proudly post a picture to social media of her kids once again together.
For a brief period, George, his brother Jesse and sister Meshilin were a family.
Maghnie – like Marrogi – had links to the Comancheros bikie gang and was a feared gunman in his own right.
He had already survived an attempt on his life in Broadmeadows in 2011 when police suspect Marrogi tried to collect his scalp.
It was a botched attempt that would enter Maghnie into the history books of legendary Melbourne crooks.
In the months before his 2016 shooting, Maghnie had been charged with affray twice over brawls; one at Crown Casino, the other at a brothel.
He had been sitting in his Holden Commodore when bullets smashed through his windscreen, striking him in the head and body.
The self described ‘Mad Lebo’ – a name he had tattooed across his stomach – fired back eight times.
He would later drive himself to the hospital and check himself in.
When police asked Maghnie who had shot him, he told them he couldn’t remember.
Marrogi has never been charged over the attack on Maghnie, who was shot dead in 2020 while Marrogi was locked safely behind bars.
In the years since his arrest over the Ors murder, Maghnie’s own daughter Sabrine would hook up with Marrogi’s younger brother, Jesse.
Sabrine, who had ‘Mad Lebo’ tattooed down her leg in tribute to her slain dad, had actively declared her affection for the younger Marrogi on social media up until recently, when her public Instagram page went private.
Marrogi has been investigated over multiple fatal and non-fatal shootings over the periods he has not been behind bars.
On Monday it was revealed he had done little to reform his passion for crime while awaiting his latest sentence.
Marrogi has been allegedly running his gang, Notorious Crime Family, from the confines of Barwon Prison, one of Australia’s toughest jails.
Well connected to Middle Eastern organised crime syndicates, Marrogi has been able to recruit prisoners and other members to NCF from inside Barwon’s top-security Acacia Unit.
Police allege Marrogi was allegedly setting up drug deals from Barwon Prison while pretending to be on the phone with his lawyer, the Herald Sun reported this week.
On Wednesday, it was revealed Marrogi and his cohorts had allegedly planned another assassination for this very weekend, which was thwarted.
Police believe he was conspiring to murder a ‘close associate’ as the investigation into his alleged running of the drug empire from inside jail netted two more arrests.
The bust coincided with word Jesse Marrogi had left the country.
Acting Deputy Commissioner Bob Hill said the syndicate had access to military-style weapons, illicit drugs and unexplained wealth.
He said the alleged murder plot was disrupted by state and federal police after receiving credible information that members of the syndicate intended to kill someone this weekend.
Marrogi’s alleged behaviour from behind bars has stirred up fears across Melbourne it could be in the early stages of another gangland war.