NSW:Bikie war led to attacks, court hears

AAP General News (Australia)
08-25-2010
NSW:Bikie war led to attacks, court hears

SYDNEY, Aug 25 AAP - A war between the Comanchero and Hells Angels bikie gangs sparked
a number of attacks including the firebombing of a Sydney clubhouse, a court has been
told.

A former nominee of the Comanchero known only as "SP" outlined the club rivalry while
giving evidence on Wednesday about a fatal airport brawl on March 22, 2009.

Anthony Zervas, 29, died in the brawl and 10 Comanchero have been charged with his murder.

Mr Zervas's brother, Peter Zervas - a senior Hells Angel - and two other men with alleged
links to the same gang, have been charged with riot and affray over the same matter.

A committal hearing in the West Sydney Trial Courts for the 13 accused heard from SP
for the first time on Wednesday.

He said that during his first few Comanchero meetings he was told the gang had "bombed"

a Hells Angels clubhouse at Petersham.

A Hells Angels-operated tattoo parlour and former beauty parlour - Angels on the Beach
- in the southern Sydney suburb of Brighton-Le-Sands, was also attacked, he said, because
it had not sought Comanchero permission.

"It was just because they put a shop in Brighton and didn't ask permission," SP told
the court on Wednesday.

When asked whose permission should have been sought, SP said it was the Comanchero boss, "Mick".

SP also said the Comanchero were responsible for firing shots into Platinum Ink - a
tattoo parlour owned by a Hells Angels member at Petersham.

"All those incidents you described, it was the Comanchero who were responsible?" crown
prosecutor Natalie Adams asked SP.

"Yes," he replied.

Before becoming a prosecution witness in the case against the 13 men, SP was also charged
with Mr Zervas's murder.

His evidence has included an account of being called to Sydney airport on March 22,
2009, to meet Comanchero boss Mick Hawi and "the boys", who were arriving on a flight
from Melbourne.

There was a chance meeting on that flight with a Hells Angels member, which sparked
the airport brawl, the prosecution alleges.

The hearing continues.

AAP ad/tr/jsh/was

KEYWORD: BIKIES

� 2010 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.