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Realtor Giorgio Barresi’s fatal shooting outside his Stoney Creek home was a “trademark” slaying that sent a clear message, says a former undercover cop who investigated him.

“‘I’ll put you down in front of your wife and kids — we can get to anyone anywhere,'” explained Paul Manning, a Hamilton cop.

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“That message is clear.

“This isn’t going to be the last homicide. It’ll go tit for tat. Wiseguys are wiseguys — they keep going.”

What’s difficult to determine is whether Barresi’s hit was a result of a conflict between crime families — trying to assert dominance through intimidation — said Manning.

“There’s also always the possibility of internal cleansing (killing within an organization), which makes it harder to determine who’s behind the homicide.”

It appears Barresi “wasn’t in the game” said Manning, who served seven years in the military and an additional seven at Scotland Yard before joining Hamilton police in 2005.