Bulgarian national denies killing Greek-Australian John Macris

After nearly two years, it appears authorities are not yet any closer to discovering who gave the order for businessman John Macris to be murdered.

Authorities last year arrested a Bulgarian national on charges of killing the Greek-Australian man on October 31, 2018.

A Bulgarian defendant in prison spoke to Star and denied he was the killer.

"I am just happy to be free. Neither I nor my brother have anything to do with this heinous crime. I came to Greece, as I have done so many times in the past, because I love Greece. I wanted to bring my family and my newborn son to live here," he said in prison.

"I am not a murderer. I'm not a criminal," he insisted. "I came to Greece with my own name, passport and credit cards. I rented a room at the hotel, travelled by plane and rented cars, all with my passport. I never tried to hide, I had nothing to hide."

"Does a professional criminal behave this way?” he questioned.

The Bulgarian defendant claims that he had no motive to kill the businessman and describes the charges against him.

"They say I shot Macris and returned to my hotel in the rented car. I spent the night and then handed over the rented car with all my DNA and made a flight reservation for the next afternoon to return home," he explained.

"Then I returned (to Greece) a few months later and went to the same hotel and the same car rental office in Glyfada. The accusation is crazy. I have nothing to do with crime, I did nothing wrong. I did not know Macris so of course I was not motivated to kill him," he continued.

"That's why they haven't found any money transfers, no connections, no incentives and no connection with Macris. I have confidence in the Greek justice system and that they will listen to me. They will declare my innocence and allow me to see my baby and family again," he said, referring to the upcoming trial that is due to begin on July 1.

The Greek-Australian businessman was murdered outside his home in Voula on October 31st, 2018, as he was walking towards his car to attend a launch of his new security business.

Macris’ funeral service in Athens was held only hundreds of metres further up from where he was murdered. His body was then flown to Australia, where he was laid to rest.

Australian investigators had also been probing the activities of the 46-year-old who was on the radar of Australian police on allegations he was connected to the attempted murder of a crime boss in Sydney and involved in the trafficking of $13 million worth of drugs.

The Australian-Greek has a security company in the Athenian suburb of Kallithea and was also involved in nightclubs in Mykonos.