Court revokes bail for three bikies

Comanchero bikies "moved as a group and inflicted violence as a group" during a
fatal Sydney airport brawl, says a judge who revoked bail for three of the gang's
members.
The judge cited concerns "for the safety of members of the Hells Angels, prospective
witnesses and the general welfare of the community" in withdrawing their bail,
following a review requested by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Pemulway labourer Pomare Pirini, 22, Leichhardt mechanic Frank La Rosa, 37, and
Casula electrician Maher Aouli, 28, are charged with murder over the brawl, along
with eight other Comancheros.
They are accused of murdering Anthony Zervas, 29, whose brother is senior Hells
Angels member Peter Zervas, during the March 22 brawl that rolled through two levels
of the domestic terminal.
Their lawyers claimed exceptional circumstances justified bail on the murder
charges, submitting the crown case against the three men was weak.
The murder charges were brought on the basis of a "joint criminal enterprise" to
inflict grievous bodily harm or to assault one or more Hells Angels, knowing serious
harm would occur.
On Tuesday in the NSW Supreme Court, Justice Peter McClellan said while there
appeared to be no direct evidence of any of the three actually inflicting violence
on another during the riot, a jury could infer they were party to an agreement to
inflict grievous bodily harm.
"They moved as a group and inflicted violence as a group," he said.
He noted a witness to the brawl saw a man say to another: "Next time we see you,
you're going to have bullets through you, you're a dead man walking".
The judge also noted that soon after the brawl Peter Zervas was shot, but survived.
"Since that event, the police have recovered an arsenal of weapons from premises
controlled by a known member of the Comancheros, which included police jackets and
other police items," he said.
The DPP submitted that while no other incident had occurred since the shooting, the
court could have no confidence that if the trio remained at large further violence
would not occur.
The judge said the propensity of Comancheros to engage in "very significant
violence" and their apparent access to weapons must raise safety concerns.
Referring to the "brazen nature of the violence" at the airport, Justice McClellan
said "their disdain for the right of others to peacefully go about their affairs was
extraordinary".
"Although the evidence before me does not indicate that the crown case in relation
to each of the respondents is strong, I am not satisfied that it is so weak as would
justify the finding of exceptional circumstances," he said.