~Wolf From Atlanta~
DRIVE-BY MURDER... Local men charged
Tue Jun 1, 2004 7:23am
209.86.134.93

DRIVE-BY MURDER... Local men charged
Journalist: Rosemary Cock
One of the accused is led into Kadina Police Station Sunday morning. Photo: Rosemary Cock

The scene in Wallaroo at about 7.30 am. Photo: THE ADVERTISER

Two local men - a 26 year old from Kadina and a 26 year old from Moonta - were arrested on Sunday and charged with the murder of a 31 year old Mount Gambier man outside the Weeroona Hotel at Wallaroo in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The pair appeared in Elizabeth Magistrates Court yesterday, where both were remanded to reappear in court in July. Neither made application for bail.

It is alleged the two men drove past the hotel in a white Holden Commodore at about 3 am, firing two shots at the Mount Gambier man before driving on.

The deceased had been crossing John Terrace, and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The man was a member of the Gypsy Jokers motorcycle gang, and was in Wallaroo as part of a club run, with approximately 40 fellow gang members.

The group had gathered, without incident, at a Maitland hotel the previous night.

At the Weeroona Hotel on Saturday night, an altercation allegedly occurred between gang members and at least two members of the public, which led to the hotel being shut early as a precaution, at around 11 pm.

The Gypsy Jokers group, with historical tacit assent from authorities, then set up a camp in the park across the road from the hotel, erecting a marquee and fire drums.

Police stress the earlier incident inside the hotel and the subsequent outside shooting were not part of any inter-gang rivalry.

The two men charged with the murder were arrested at two separate locations in Kadina, at approximately 11 am Sunday morning.


WITNESSES SOUGHT
Police are asking anyone in the vicinity of the Weeroona Hotel immediately before or after the time of the shooting, to contact Kadina CIB direct on 8828 1100, Major Crime on 8463 7840 or BankSA Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

"We have already received a number of statements, and need anyone else who saw anything to also come forward", said Yorke Operations Manager for the Barossa Yorke Local Service Area, Peter Dunstone.

Peter takes the opportunity to thank the local Ambulance Service and CFS members for their professionalism in assisting at the scene.

"I would also like to say how very proud I am of the commitment and dedication shown by all of my police members who worked extremely long hours over the weekend, and showed outstanding professionalism".