Australasian Biker News
Prison revenge hit linked to bikies
By Nigel Hunt
February 24, 2008 01:00am
Article from: Sunday Mail (SA)
THE MAN responsible for the death of a toddler has survived a suspected
bikie-sanctioned revenge attack in jail.
David John Partridge was left with a shocking gash from his ear to mouth
after being slashed with a homemade knife in the Adelaide Remand Centre.
The man wielding the knife - made from a razor blade - is an associate
of the Finks motorcycle gang.
Three-year-old David Mamo's grandfather is a senior member of the Finks
motorcycle gang.
He is currently before the court on multiple firearms and unlawful
possession charges.
The incident comes almost two years after a relative of Mamo's warned in
a death notice placed in The Advertiser of "suffering" for those
responsible for his death.
The attack on Partridge, 29, happened earlier this month. He was rushed
to Royal Adelaide Hospital for treatment and is now back at the Remand
Centre in a secure unit.
The man believed responsible for the attack has been shifted to Yatala
Labour Prison. Sources there said he is closely linked to the Finks.
When arrested on sex offences late last year, he was working in a
southern suburbs tattoo shop owned by a senior Finks member. David Mamo
died at the Women's and Children's Hospital in February 2006 after
suffering severe internal injuries, including a severed bowel.
Police alleged the injuries were inflicted by his mother Melissa Joanne
Field, 29, and Partridge.
Both were charged with murder, but subsequently pleaded guilty to the
lesser charge of criminal neglect.
Field, who pleaded guilty in December 2006, was sentenced to six years
in prison while Partridge, who pleaded guilty last November, will be
sentenced shortly.
In the weeks after David Mamo's death, there were veiled threats of
retribution. One death notice in The Advertiser read: "Rest in peace my
little grandson, the suffering is over and theirs only just begun."
Yatala sources said this week: "There appears no other motive for the
attack.
"It looks like this bloke has been able to position himself to be in the
same unit as Partridge and then take advantage of the situation. He is
now in mainstream and being afforded the protection of other Finks
associates."
The sources said that besides ensuring his protection while in prison,
the knife attack may also serve to ensure the man's membership of the
Finks.
It may also be used by other gang members to intimidate the man's female
victim as his trial approaches.
"It is quite common amongst these people to intimidate witnesses and
this incident may well end up being used to put pressure on those
involved in his case," one source said.
"They don't stand over and intimidate people just to extort money ...
they use their coercive demeanour in many ways."
It is understood neither Partridge nor the man suspected of the attack
are co-operating with police investigating the incident.
Police Corrections Section officer-in-charge Detective Sergeant Derek
Wright