Australasian Biker News
Biker's bail plea to be with ill father
Melanie Pilling
11Apr08
FINKS bikie Nick 'The Knife' Forbes desperately wants to be released on
bail so he can spend time with his terminally ill father.
Mr Forbes' father has lung cancer and less than five months to live but
that did not stop him nor his wife, who has a serious heart condition,
from lighting up cigarettes the moment they left the court building
yesterday.
For almost two hours, Mr Forbes' solicitor Bill Potts told the Southport
Magistrates Court of the 'human tragedy' of Mr Forbes' incarceration
while both his parents suffer with severe illnesses.
Mr Forbes, a 38-year-old father-of-two, is accused of leading a gang on
a violent rampage through Broadbeach Mall, randomly assaulting up to six
'innocent' young men in separate unprovoked attacks on January 20.
At the time of the alleged attack, Mr Forbes was on Supreme Court bail
charged with attempted murder after a shootout between rival motorcycle
clubs the Hells Angels and Finks at Royal Pines Resort in March 2006.
Yesterday, during Mr Forbes' bail application, Mr Potts conceded Mr
Forbes could be identified in security footage which captured the
alleged attack in Broadbeach, but he said the 'extreme' family
circumstances should see him released from custody.
Mr Potts told the court Mr Forbes' father Stephen Wilson had been
diagnosed with cancer six weeks ago.
He said Mr Wilson was so ill he could not visit his son in Woodford
prison, near Caboolture.
He said if Mr Forbes was remanded in custody and his father died, he
would not be able to attend the funeral unless he personally paid for
prison guards and a prison van to get him there, which would cost about
$10,000.
"The situation is the defendant's father ... is facing a death sentence.
He has unfortunately contracted a severe form of cancer," said Mr Potts.
"Death is imminent. One would have to be made of stone not to empathise
with the defendant."
Mr Potts suggested magistrate Michael O'Driscoll impose strict bail
conditions, which amounted to home detention.
"I have been given strict instructions by his mother ... that if their
son breached any of the conditions they personally would inform police
immediately," he said.
Mr Forbes sat in the dock looking concerned for his parents,
particularly his mother Chris Wilson who had to leave the court
coughing.
Police prosecutor Senior Sergeant Lavonda Maloy opposed bail and argued
Mr Forbes had shown little respect for bail by committing further
offences.
She said the prosecution case was 'overwhelming'.
"The defendant was facing a charge of attempted murder and the defendant
continues to commit serious violent offences against the community,"
said Sen-Sgt Maloy.
"This was a violent, dangerous and completely callous attack with no
regard for civil liberties.
"The courts need to send a message to the community that this kind of
behaviour is completely unacceptable."
Mr Potts said the Director of Public Prosecutions had since downgraded
the attempted murder charge to two counts of assault occasioning bodily
harm.
Mr O'Driscoll reserved his decision until today.
At the end of the bail application Mrs Wilson took her frustration out
on the media, abusing The Bulletin for taking her photograph.