Fifteen witnesses to the brazen execution slaying of a Diamond District merchant have provided investigators with “15 different descriptions” of the assassin, sources told The Post.
The hit man, who gunned down Eduard Nektalov on a jampacked Sixth Avenue Thursday evening, was said to be Mediterranean, Arabic, Spanish, North African or Israeli, according to various witnesses quizzed by the cops after the Sixth Avenue killing.
The seemingly professional killer walked up behind Nektalov between 47th and 48th streets at around 7:20 p.m., fired one shot into his head and two coup de gras shots into his body before going back in the direction from which he came, apparently to an idling getaway car.
Although the brazen murder and the killer’s calm escape were seen by dozens of people, only about 15 were able to provide accounts to the police – and “we got 15 different descriptions,” one source said.
“It’s not like on television where it all comes together easily,” said one investigator. “Murder Investigation 101 says that the eyewitnesses can be wrong.”
Once the witnesses were calmed and re-interviewed over several days, it was clear the killer was an olive-complexioned killer and chubby.
The coldblooded hit man was described as a man in his mid-20s with long, dark hair “page boy over the collar,” wearing a long-sleeve black T-shirt and black pants.
Investigators continue to probe Nektalov’s suspected 20-year relationship with a number of Colombians, some of whom are reputed drug dealers who allegedly purchase jewels to send back to Colombia as a means of laundering their ill-gotten gains.
Nektalov, 46, was indicted in June with his father, Roman, 74, for allegedly molding gold into belts, screws and tools so it could be smuggled to Colombian drug lords, officials said.
Rumors around the case incorrectly speculated he was cooperating with authorities.
He also had relationships with numerous Russian gem traders and may have had a dispute with them or someone else over money that resulted in the killing, sources said.
“This is a case where there are too many motives,” another source said, adding that the hit could stem from another, as yet unknown, personal relationship.
Hundreds of mourners turned out for Nektalov’s funeral and lauded the slain diamond dealer.
Cops say the case will be a tough one to crack, and are asking anyone with information to call Crimestoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.