Thursday, November 25, 2010

Trial of bikie gang members charged over a fatal brawl at Sydney airport has been set down for May


Trial of bikie gang members charged over a fatal brawl at Sydney airport has been set down for May next year.
Nine members of the Comanchero gang, charged with murder, and an alleged Hells Angel facing a riot charge, were arraigned in the NSW Supreme Court in Sydney on Thursday.
They each entered a plea of not guilty, while two other accused did not appear.
Justice Megan Latham was told up to four of the 12 men may not go to trial.
The case stems from an incident at the domestic airport's check-in area in March 2009 which left Anthony Zervas, 29, dead after he was beaten with steel bollards and stabbed during a brawl between the warring gangs.
Comanchero boss Mahmoud "Mick" Hawi and colleagues Maher Aouli, Farres Abounader, Frank La Rosa, Christian Menzies, Zoran Kisacanin, Tiago Costa and Ismail Erden all pleaded not guilty to one count each of murder, riot and affray.
Usama Potrus pleaded not guilty to murder and riot charges, while arraignment of a 10th Comanchero, Pomare Pirini, was stood over for December 16.
Alleged Hells Angel member Phillip Ovalle pleaded not guilty to one charge of riot, while gang member David Padovan will be arraigned next month after he did not appear due to illness.
The trial is due to begin on May 9, but a venue has not yet been decided.