This is the text message allegedly found on a bikie’s mobile phone and sent out to Bandido members two days before a riot at a Broadbeach restaurant in September 2013 that led to the state introducing the nation’s toughest anti-bikie laws.

It is the latest piece of evidence to be revealed as scores of people charged after the wild mass melee prepare to face trial.

Two of the alleged main players yesterday tried to force the prosecution to give out more details of the case, arguing it was not properly particularised and would prejudice their trial, due to start next month.

The prosecution case alleges a group of Bandidos travelled to the busy Broadbeach dining precinct on Friday, September 27, 2013 with the purpose of causing trouble with a rival gang.

 

Dressed the same in club colours and having received the text message two days before, the Crown case is the bikies formed a common purpose to riot — an integral part of the case which saw scores of men charged as part of the bigger group.

A love triangle between alleged ex-Bandidos leader Jacques Teamo and rival Finks associates has also been raised a possible motive for the incident which spilled out of the Aura Tapas and Loungebar and on to the street, causing police to call for extensive back-up as public areas were overtaken with brawling bikies.

However, defence lawyers for former Bandidos Brisbane president Adam Christopher White and club member Ahmed Kaddour, yesterday argued not enough detail was known and the case should be stayed.

Barrister Sam Di Carlo argued the case was too wide, with the prosecution unable to specify when White and the others formed the crucial common purpose.

Mr Di Carlo said it was not good enough to just say the men made the decision to act together at some point before entering the restaurant as that meant he would possibly need to call a large number of witnesses.

He said he could call evidence from other restaurants the men tried to get into before arriving at Aura, to suggest the group was simply looking for a place to have dinner.

However, barrister Jeff Hunter, QC, for the Crown, said the evidence at trial, including CCTV of the incident, would show what happened and if common purpose could not proved then the men would be found not guilty.

He said the Crown was unable to specify now when the group made a plan, but pointed to a text message sent out the Wednesday before the Friday night riot.

Found on one Bandidos member’s phone the message read, “Hello brothers this Friday every member and probate must be at the clubhouse by 7.30pm”.

Mr Hunter said the Crown did not know who attended the clubhouse or what was discussed but it would form part of the case, along with the fact all the men were dressed the same when they turned up at Broadbeach later that night.

Magistrate Michael Quinn dismissed the defence applications, saying the riot case was very clear.

The trial is listed to start on May 4 at Southport.

 

 

Originally published as The text that started the bikie riot

 

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