Kalim Saliba was ‘bashed to death by his nephews Danny Stephen and Tony Tadrosse’ in Cherrybrook
Appelboer, 86, who fought to defend his wife from intruders, was reportedly beaten to death ‘by his cousins who knew he had a safe full of money hidden under the floorboards’
- Kalim Saliba is said to have been beaten to death
- Cousins were charged with murder
Orchard owner Kalim Saliba, 86, died after he and his wife were allegedly attacked at their Cherrybrook home in April 2020
Two men accused of beating a pensioner to death in an alleged home invasion three years ago have turned out to be his relatives.
Orchard owner Kalim Saliba, 86, suffered serious head injuries and died in hospital after allegedly being attacked by two men who broke into his home in Cherrybrook in Sydney’s northwest on April 29, 2020.
He valiantly tried to defend his 83-year-old wife of 60, who was also seriously injured in the attack.
NSW Police offered a $1 million reward for information leading to the December 2021 arrest of those involved and charged two men on Wednesday.
Danny Stephen, 33, was arrested at his home in Castle Hill and Tony Tadrosse, 58, was arrested at Silverwater Correctional Complex.
Tadrosse is the cousin of Mr. Saliba and Stephen his second cousin, and also cousin of Tadrosse, according to the Daily telegram.
Both were charged with murder and aggravated burglary. Police said they were also alleged drug dealers charged with supplying drugs.
Two men have been arrested on suspicion of the alleged murder and trespassing of Mr. Saliba
Police said in a statement of facts referenced in court that they claimed they cracked the case using cell phone pings that the pair allegedly placed near the crime scene.
Tadrosse and Stephen allegedly attacked Mr. Saliba because they knew he had hidden a safe full of suitcases in his living room.
Mr. Saliba and his wife were struck down with a “wooden-handled, round-headed weapon,” police documents said.
Mr Saliba’s family thanked police in a statement on Wednesday, saying their grief over the loss of their loved one would remain with them forever.
“We are immensely grateful to the NSW Police Force for all their diligent hard work and assistance over the past three years. We have full confidence in the research team and appreciate their support and hard work,” the family said.
“This has understandably been a traumatic and emotional time for our family. We have lost a dear family member and still mourn the loss every day.
“While the lawsuit is ongoing, our family is requesting privacy at this time.”
At the time of the attack, police said two masked men broke into the couple’s home just after midnight.
Detectives spent months searching CCTV footage around the couple’s home in an attempt to find their attackers.
Mr. Saliba owned the family-owned Saliba Fruits apple orchard in the town of Bilpin in the Blue Mountains.
NSW police officers arrest a 33-year-old man for the alleged murder of Mr Saliba
NSW Police had offered a $1 million reward for information leading to an arrest in connection with Mr Saliba’s death