Victorian anti-bikie taskforce police have charged four alleged members of the Comanchero outlaw motorcycle gang over the alleged torture of a man in a Werribee house.
A Melbourne court heard on Tuesday that the victim, 38, was burned and blistered when boiling water was poured over his body during an early morning attack.
It was alleged that four men had smashed in his front door, identified themselves as Comancheros and were armed with two shotguns and a sledge hammer and demanded drugs, money and access to a safe.
A detective with the Echo taskforce alleged in Melbourne Magistrates Court the offenders were Thomas Laslo, the club’s “road captain”, and “prospect” members Cameron Murdoch, Jake Boyer and Dimitrios Theodoridis.
All are charged with offences that include aggravated burglary and intentionally cause serious injury.
Detective Senior Constable Andrew Griffin said the police’s major concern was that if bailed, the four accused may seek “retribution” against the victim.
Mr Laslo, 29, of Tarneit, did not apply for bail, but Mr Theodoridis and Mr Murdoch, both 25, and Mr Boyer, 21, did, which was also opposed on the grounds that they were a risk to public safety and welfare.
Detective Griffin said police called to the vicinity of the house at 12.45am on Monday after an emergency call saw a woman driving erratically who, when stopped, alleged she had seen four men wearing balaclavas and carrying firearms run towards a 4WD Mercedes Benz.
Detective Griffin told the court that police soon after found the men in the 4WD and also two 12 gauge shotguns, 12 gauge ammunition, a sledge hammer, steel knuckle dusters, a nail gun, drug paraphernalia and a Comanchero vest and wind cheater.
After they were arrested, the victim, who was hospital with serious injuries, told police he had been home with seven “associates” when he refused to open his door before it was smashed in.
He alleged he was assaulted with a hammer and the butts of the shotguns, told the attackers he had none of what they demanded before one assailant boiled a kettle of water and poured it on his body.
Detective Griffin said he was scalded a second time and threatened that his knee would be drilled or a nail gun used and his face “sliced” open as he was assaulted.
He listed the victim’s injuries as large cuts to his face and side of his head, severe burns to his abdomen and chest and numerous “slices” across his forearm.
The man stated that he did not know his attackers.
Police later executed search warrants on the 4WD and the Comanchero clubhouse in Williamstown.
Questioned by barrister Serge Petrovich, for Mr Boyer, Detective Griffin agreed his client had no prior convictions and accepted that if he made certain concessions, which included living outside Melbourne, obeying a curfew and agreeing to an intervention order to protect the victim, they may allay his concerns about bail.
Mr Boyer’s father Anthony Boyer wept in evidence when he spoke of first learning of his son’s alleged Comanchero links “when we found out he was locked up”.
He said he was “absolutely devastated” by the charges. Detective Griffin told Anthony Malkoun, for Mr Murdoch, that neither the victim or his associates had identified his client.
He agreed with Mr Dimitrios’ lawyer Caitlin Dwyer that presently there was no evidence that linked her client to the victim’s house and that any possible forensic evidence would not be available for some time.
Prosecutor Gemma Walton submitted the police case was strong, with the accused linked to the Comancheros, having access to weapons and blood found on Mr Laslo’s shoes.
In agreeing to bail the men, magistrate Franz Holzer said there was a combination of factors, that included their ages, lack of prior convictions, delay and the imposition of strict conditions, which satisfied him they had shown cause why their continued custody was not justified.
Mr Holzer said he did not “resile from the nature of the alleged events”, their impact on the victim and the concerns expressed of his possible harm and risks to the community.
He did not regard the prosecution case as strong, but noted there was a considerable body of evidence yet to be presented, that included forensic testing.
Mr Boyle, of Kyneton, Mr Murdoch, of Watsonia, and Mr Dimitrios, of Hoppers Crossing, were released on conditions that included reporting to police, obeying a curfew, living at fixed addresses and not interfering with witnesses, associating with each other or attending or associating with Comanchero members, the clubhouse or property.
They were ordered to appear again on May 12.
This story first appeared as an Exclusive in The Age
