3 MEN SENTENCED ON WEAPON CHARGES
Three men sentenced after weapons haul
Jason Gregory
December 12, 2007 11:00pm
THREE men have been sentenced for their role in stockpiling weapons to be used against a rival bikie gang as another chapter in Brisbane's motorcycle club war played out in court yesterday.
According to a statement of facts tendered to the District Court, 22 weapons were confiscated by police last year during a police raid in Banyo, in Brisbane's northeast.
The haul included a hand grenade, an SKS rifle, .22 rifles, a pump-action shotgun, a sub-machinegun, sawn-off rifles, a crossbow and ammunition – later assessed to be worth $13,435.
The details were heard yesterday during the sentencing of two members, including the Bandidos Ipswich chapter president, and one "retired" member of the motorcycle club who had pleaded guilty to multiple weapons offences.
The court heard the Bandidos were arming themselves because of an escalating war with rival club the Rebels.
The court was told one of the men, Grant Andrew Everest, 44, a Gatton meat assessor, found the weapons hidden in a crate on his property and called his former clubmates to collect them.
The other two – Gary Thomas Williams, 47, and Craig Gorman, 36, both of Toowoomba – arranged to collect the weapons using a flat-bed truck owned by Williams.
In November 2006 the box, which had originally been brought in from NSW, was then moved around several times before being discovered by police.
A week after the weapons were first moved, a former Bandidos member, turned police informant, heard Williams tell
other members that "the guns were to be used in a fight against the Rebels".
Judge Terry Martin said the two years' jail the Crown had asked be given to the main offender Williams "seems to be a generous concession" when considering the weapons were for "hostility" purposes.
But Crown prosecutor Jodie Wooldridge said the stockpiling of weapons was a serious offence, especially when "they are possessed by members of a club engaged in hostilities with rival clubs".
"(It was) more than theoretical they were for use against the Rebels should things turn bad. It is clear the weapons were not for personal defence," she said.
Ms Wooldridge said the charges brought against the three were not because they were bikie club members. They were charged for crimes committed as members of the club, she said.
Judge Martin sentenced Williams, as the principal possessor of the weapons, to three years in jail. He made Williams, who has already served 236 days in pre-sentence custody, eligible for parole on April 20, next year.
Everest and Gorman were viewed as "facilitators" and handed 12-month jail terms. They were both released immediately on parole.
STORY SOURCE(click here)
Jason Gregory
December 12, 2007 11:00pm
THREE men have been sentenced for their role in stockpiling weapons to be used against a rival bikie gang as another chapter in Brisbane's motorcycle club war played out in court yesterday.
According to a statement of facts tendered to the District Court, 22 weapons were confiscated by police last year during a police raid in Banyo, in Brisbane's northeast.
The haul included a hand grenade, an SKS rifle, .22 rifles, a pump-action shotgun, a sub-machinegun, sawn-off rifles, a crossbow and ammunition – later assessed to be worth $13,435.
The details were heard yesterday during the sentencing of two members, including the Bandidos Ipswich chapter president, and one "retired" member of the motorcycle club who had pleaded guilty to multiple weapons offences.
The court heard the Bandidos were arming themselves because of an escalating war with rival club the Rebels.
The court was told one of the men, Grant Andrew Everest, 44, a Gatton meat assessor, found the weapons hidden in a crate on his property and called his former clubmates to collect them.
The other two – Gary Thomas Williams, 47, and Craig Gorman, 36, both of Toowoomba – arranged to collect the weapons using a flat-bed truck owned by Williams.
In November 2006 the box, which had originally been brought in from NSW, was then moved around several times before being discovered by police.
A week after the weapons were first moved, a former Bandidos member, turned police informant, heard Williams tell
other members that "the guns were to be used in a fight against the Rebels".
Judge Terry Martin said the two years' jail the Crown had asked be given to the main offender Williams "seems to be a generous concession" when considering the weapons were for "hostility" purposes.
But Crown prosecutor Jodie Wooldridge said the stockpiling of weapons was a serious offence, especially when "they are possessed by members of a club engaged in hostilities with rival clubs".
"(It was) more than theoretical they were for use against the Rebels should things turn bad. It is clear the weapons were not for personal defence," she said.
Ms Wooldridge said the charges brought against the three were not because they were bikie club members. They were charged for crimes committed as members of the club, she said.
Judge Martin sentenced Williams, as the principal possessor of the weapons, to three years in jail. He made Williams, who has already served 236 days in pre-sentence custody, eligible for parole on April 20, next year.
Everest and Gorman were viewed as "facilitators" and handed 12-month jail terms. They were both released immediately on parole.
STORY SOURCE(click here)
posted by Demo at Thursday, December 13, 2007
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