Bikie boss faces court on murder charge

Three months after a fatal brawl at Sydney Airport that horrified scores of innocent
bystanders, police have charged a bikie gang leader with murder.
Comanchero chief Mahmoud "Mick" Hawi, 29, was on Tuesday charged in Kogarah Local
Court with the murder of Anthony Zervas after being arrested at his Bexley home in
Sydney's south the same morning.
Mr Zervas, 29, the brother of senior Hells Angels member Peter Zervas, was left in a
pool of blood after the March 22 brawl which involved several men and rolled through
two levels of the airport.
He is believed to have suffered severe head injuries during the brawl as a result of
being bludgeoned with a steel bollard. It is also alleged he suffered stab wounds.
Hawi and five of his gang had already been charged with affray over the airport
incident.
NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione said the Office of the Director of Public
Prosecutions had advised Hawi, who was free on bail, should be charged with murder.
He said the brief of evidence against the bikie boss "is strong".
"I can say that the police investigation into this has been meticulous. It needed to
be," Mr Scipione told reporters on Tuesday.
Hawi's appearance at Kogarah Local Court did not include a bail application and he
will be held in custody until July 9 when he is due to face Sydney's Central Local
Court.
Outside court, Anthony Zervas' mother hurled abuse, and spittle, at Hawi's supporters.
"Even my spit is worth more than Mick Hawi," Frederika Bromwich cried from the
courthouse steps.
Later she said, presumably to Hawi: "May you rot in hell and give you the same pain
- as you gave me - to your mother and your sister."
Mr Scipione said the police case against Hawi will be based on a combination of
forensic evidence and hundreds of witness statements.
"We said that we would clear up this murder incident at the airport. This is but the
first instalment."
He said more people would be charged over the incident but declined to say what
charges they would face.
Mr Scipione added that since the brawl there had been a "significant review" of
security measures at the airport.
"We will continue to contribute to the upgrading of security at the airport," he said.
Australian Federal Police (AFP) boss Mick Keelty welcomed Tuesday's charge, while
defending the work of his officers, who are principally responsible for security at
the airport.
AFP officers did not arrive at the scene of the brawl until about 15 minutes after
Anthony Zervas was bashed.
Asked about the AFP's role in the incident, Mr Keelty reiterated that Sydney
airport's faulty cameras were to blame for the officers' slow response.
"We have to work with all the agencies at the airport, including the private sector,
and of course we're always looking to improve security where it's possible," he told
reporters.