Sign business owner charged with murder

The owner of Inline National Signage, the company involved in a deadly customer dispute in March, has been charged with murder and is due to appear in court today.

Business owner Chantelle Strnad was arrested at Campbelltown Police Station yesterday afternoon charged with both the murder of sign customer Michael Bassal, and for being an accessory after the fact to murder.

Strnad was been refused bail and was scheduled to appear at Campbelltown Local Court earlier this morning.

The charges follow an incident where Inline customer Michael Bassal was fatally shot by Strnad’s associate Wayne Williams at the sign shop, with Bassal’s two brothers also shot but not killed.

The bothers were in dispute with Inline over $40,000 worth of signage that the three brothers had paid to be produced for their construction company but had not received. The shooting occurred after the men had been invited to the Ingleburn premises in a pre-arranged meeting.

Williams opened fire on the three brothers on March 7, before turning the gun on himself. Strnad’s alleged role in Michael Bassal’s death and the resulting six-hour siege led to her arrest.

The company located on Heald Road in Ingleburn has been shut down since the fatal shooting. An industry insider told ProPrint there has been no movement on the premises, and it is likely operations will close for good following the owner’s criminal charges.

NSW Police released a statement which reads, “Her arrest follows extensive investigations into the shooting death of a 44-year-old man at a factory unit on Heald Road, Ingleburn, on Monday 7 March 2016.”

“Detectives attached to Strike Force Belgica believe the man was shot during a business dispute; his two brothers sustained gunshot wounds. The alleged shooter died at the scene a short time later. The woman was this afternoon charged with one count of murder, and one count of being an accessory after the fact to murder.”

Strnad pled guilty to concealing a serious indictable offence in court last month after failing to assist officers at the scene of the crime in Sydney’s south-west.

ProPrint reported last month Inline National Signage was in liquidation at the time of the incident. Inline was appointed liquidators two years ago and is listed on the ASIC as Sparta Holdings.

Inline operated several divisions outside of sign manufacturing and installation, including InBond architectural panels and a project.

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