Bikies' lawyers criticise police probe

Lawyers representing six Comanchero bikies on charges linked to a fatal brawl at Sydney Airport accuse police of keeping them on a "drip feed" of information.

They also say it's "curious" no Hells Angels gang members have been charged.
Comanchero chief Mahmoud "Mick" Hawi, 28, of Bexley, surrendered himself to police
on Monday, becoming the sixth man charged with affray over the March 22 brawl.
The violent melee rolled through Sydney's Qantas domestic terminal and resulted in
the death of Hells Angels associate Anthony Zervas, 29.
Hawi's legal team said the surrender at a secret location was part of an agreement
set up days ago, dismissing claims the bikie leader had fled NSW amid fears for his
safety.
Also on Monday, police said they were confident someone would be charged with Mr
Zervas's murder, while the heat of the bikie war was also felt by Premier Nathan
Rees and Police Minister Tony Kelly.
Both have reportedly been given extra security amid fears of a backlash over tough
new anti-gang laws.
While six Comancheros have been charged with affray over the airport brawl, police
believe there is enough evidence to eventually charge someone with murder.
"Given the number of people who were in the airport we have spoken to, who have
given us statements, I am confident at the end of the day that there will be someone
charged with that very serious offence," NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Paul Carey
told reporters on Monday.
Defence lawyers have lashed out at police, saying they are releasing limited facts
and changing the evidence on which charges are based.
Many of the charges are based on statements collected from 31 witnesses, including
flight attendants and passengers on board the flight from Melbourne to Sydney that
carried some members of the warring gangs preceding the brawl.
"It's quite difficult in the circumstances where you have a case that, on a daily
basis, is changing," Comanchero solicitor Lesly Randle told reporters outside court.
"You have a set of facts the first day, you have a different set of facts the next day.
"They (police) are now relying on statements which have a lot of parts of them
blocked out in black. What is that material? Why is everything such a secret?"
Ms Randle also expressed curiosity no Hells Angels had been charged over the airport
brawl.
"It is quite curious," she said.
"But it does appear that the police have a particular interest in running the case
they wish to run it ... they will put us on a drip feed and give us the information
as they choose."
Lawyer John Korn's initial optimism of having Hawi released on bail on Monday went
awry when the court ran out of time to hear the matter.
A lengthy and unsuccessful bail application for Christian Menzies - one of the six
Comancheros charged with affray - meant Magistrate David Armati did not have time to
hear Hawi's application in Sydney's Central Local Court.
Dressed in a grey T-shirt and black trackpants, large tattoos visible on his arms
and the back of his neck, the muscular Hawi stood without emotion as he was told he
would be held in custody until his matter was next mentioned at 2pm (AEST) on
Tuesday.
Outside court, Mr Korn said his client was "despondent" there was no time for the
bail application to be made.