Australasian Biker News
Troy Mercanti bashed, banned by Coffin Cheaters
Article from: The Sunday Times
February 04, 2008 01:00pm
FEARED bikie Troy Mercanti was bashed on Thursday night by his former
Coffin Cheater colleagues.
Mercanti needed hospital treatment after being set upon by 12-15 bikies.
The Sunday Times understands the assault was more than a disciplinary
beating. Sources claim Mercanti has been kicked out of the gang, which
has clubhouses in Bayswater and Beaconsfield.
Sources also claim that the attack sent a message to other bikie gangs
and associates that Mercanti was no longer a Cheater.
Mercanti, formerly the Coffin Cheaters' sergeant-at-arms, has been a
walking headline in recent years.
The 40-year-old was acquitted of shooting a rival gang member after
being stabbed at Metro City nightclub in Northbridge in January 2005.
Detectives and senior police were "seething'' aned "guttted" when
Mercanti and his pal walked free from court in May 2006.
Mercanti has been embroiled in other coutr cases since. Last November,
he pleaded not guilty to an alleged attack outside a Northbridge
nightclub that left a 26-year-old man with a broken jaw.
The Sunday Times understands that detectives have been aware for some
time that Mercanti was on the outer with senior Coffin Cheaters. They
felt it was only a matter of time before he was got at by an increasing
number of enemies, both inside and outside the gang.
The Coffin Cheaters Bayswater fortified headquarters was damanged by
fire last November. Police said an accelerant had been used to start the
blaze, which caused $50,000 damage.