Bikies and killer unite in prison
Date
November 6, 2013 - 11:48PM
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Nino Bucci
The Hells Angels are embroiled in a violent feud with two rival gangs.
Photo: Wolter Peeters
Meet the man who murdered Carl Williams
The Hells Angels have joined forces with a feared gang run by the killer of
underworld kingpin Carl Williams inside Barwon Prison, giving the bikies
unprecedented influence inside Victoria's highest-security jail.
Detective Senior Sergeant Wayne Cheesman said the bond between the Hells
Angels and Prisoners of War demonstrated the reach of the bikie gang.
Prisoners of War, a group led by Matthew Charles Johnson, have aligned with
the bikie gang, which police fear will grow stronger through the alliance.
Life inside Barwon Prison.
The power play comes as the Hells Angels are embroiled in a violent feud
with two rival gangs that have been weakened by the loss of senior members.
It can be revealed that prominent bikie Toby Mitchell has quit the Bandidos
because of ill-health caused by two murder attempts, both of which have been
linked to the Hells Angels or their associates.
Police confirmed that Mitchell, who had risen to become the Australasian
serjeant-at-arms of the Bandidos, had handed in his club colours. His power
base had taken in Bandidos chapters in Australia and south-east Asia.
Prison CCTV footage released after Matthew Johnson's court case shows the
convicted killer (left) sneaking up behind Carl Williams (seated) with the
stem of an exercise bike before launching his deadly attack.
Prison CCTV footage released after Matthew Johnson's court case shows the
convicted killer (left) sneaking up behind Carl Williams (seated) with the
stem of an exercise bike before launching his deadly attack. Photo: Supplied
Detective Senior Sergeant Wayne Cheesman, of the Echo taskforce, said the
bond between the Hells Angels and Prisoners of War demonstrated the reach of
the bikie gang. Johnson founded the feared group of prisoners, which detests
those who co-operate with police.
Justice Lex Lasry said during Johnson's sentencing in December 2011 that the
prisoner had killed Williams after learning he was helping police
investigate the murders of Terence and Christine Hodson.
The revelation comes only a week after concerns about overcrowding in
Victoria's prison system reached crisis point and as the Queensland
government considers a bikies-only prison.
Matthew Charles Johnson.
Matthew Charles Johnson, the leader of Prisoners of War.
Senior Sergeant Cheesman told a firearms appeals committee hearing on
Wednesday that the Hells Angels had recently boasted of their ability to
secure high-powered weapons.
During police raids to find the guns last month, an Echo detective told a
Hells Angels member that if the gang's AK-47 and M1 Carbine were handed in,
"the heat would come off".
"The Hells Angel responded, 'Do your job and you'll find them, and if you
find them we'll just get more,"' Senior Sergeant Cheesman said. "That's the
attitude of the Hells Angels at the moment."
Toby Mitchell leaves St Kilda Police Station.
Toby Mitchell has quit the Bandidos because of ill-health caused by two
murder attempts. Photo: Simon O'Dwyer
A Hells Angels member also posed with one of the weapons and handguns on his
Facebook page, but the guns were not found when his house was raided. Police
had said last month they knew who had the weapons.
The Hells Angels are also engaged in a tit-for-tat with the Comanchero bikie
gang in Melbourne's south-east. It was revealed on Wednesday that a heated
discussion between a member of the Hells Angels' Darkside chapter in Seaford
and the Comancheros' Hallam chapter had sparked the feud, which had led to a
series of drive-by shootings, bombings and attempted bombings of businesses
and clubhouses.
None of those shootings was as serious as the second attempt on Mitchell's
life, which police believe could have been as bad as the Milperra massacre.
Seven people, six of them bikies, died in the gunfight between the
Comanchero and Bandidos gangs in Sydney's west in 1984.
Senior Sergeant Cheesman said that Mitchell had arrived at the Melton
clubhouse of the Diablos on March 1 in one of four cars driven by Bandidos
in response to a "run through" by the Hells Angels and associate clubs. It
was revealed that during the rampage a Hells Angels member was seen standing
in an overcoat brandishing a machinegun and the girlfriends of Diablos
members had their details taken by the bikies performing the run-through as
a threat to stop them speaking to police.
Video footage shows that when Mitchell's convoy arrived, members of the
Hells Angels group ambushed them in cars of their own, ramming into
Mitchell's car and spraying them with bullets while other Bandidos fled.
Mitchell, 38, was shot in the right arm.
Another Bandido received minor gunshot wounds and a Diablo was bashed in the
run through.
In November 2011, Mitchell, a former heavyweight kickboxer, nearly died when
he was shot five times outside Doherty’s Gym in Brunswick.
He was on life support for weeks and lost a kidney and part of his liver but
refused to co-operate with police.
It is unclear who will replace Mr Mitchell, who left the club in ‘‘good
standing’’. Club members who leave in these circumstances are not subject to
any recriminations, which can include beatings and having their motorcycles
confiscated, as occurs with the Comanchero.
Former state president of the Comanchero Amad 'Jay' Malkoun resigned from
his position earlier this year because of an extended business trip in Dubai
that he is yet to return from, but he remains a member of the club.
nbucci@fairfaxmedia.com.au
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/national/bikies-and-killer-unite-in-prison-20131106-2x21h.html#ixzz2jwA8aJZh