AUSTRALASIAN BIKER NEWS

  

Perth nightclub clash accused plead innocence
By Paige Taylor
16jun05
BUSINESS identity John Kizon stood with the sergeant-at-arms of the Coffin Cheaters motorcycle gang in a Perth court yesterday as they each pleaded their innocence over a stabbing and shooting at a swank inner-city nightclub.
 
Mr Kizon told the District Court he was "definitely not guilty" of one count of being an accessory after the fact of an unlawful wounding, and one count of attempting to pervert the course of justice following a violent struggle at the Metro City nightclub on January 23.
 
Coffin Cheater Troy Mercanti suffered serious stab wounds when he was allegedly attacked with a knife by rival Scorpion Boys gang member Nabil Dabag. A wounded Mr Mercanti is alleged to have then shot Mr Dabag five times.
 
Mr Dabag is in custody, charged with stabbing Mr Mercanti and will appear in Perth District Court today to apply for bail.
 
The court heard that Mr Kizon removed from the scene the firearm Mr Mercanti allegedly used to shoot Mr Dabag. Prosecutors allege Mr Kizon lied to police when he said he knew nothing about the shooting.
 
  

Mr Mercanti, who has been held in custody since the shooting, told judge Mary Ann Yeats yesterday that he was not guilty of causing grievous bodily harm and attempting to pervert the course of justice.
 
It is alleged others at the nightclub attempted to pervert the course of justice on the night by cleaning up the crime scene.
 
Co-accused Adam Wayne Lloyd and Paul Kenneth Martino pleaded not guilty to attempting to pervert the course of justice, while David Morris pleaded not guilty to being an accessory.
 
Mr Mercanti's lawyer, Laurie Levy, told Judge Yeats he would seek an early trial for his client, because he was being kept in custody.
 
Mr Kizon, Mr Martino, Mr Lloyd and Mr Morris had their bail renewed.
 
They are due to reappear in the District Court on November 18 for a status conference.
 
Outside court, Mr Kizon said the case against him was a fiction and that he would be cleared. "If they are going to charge me, charge me with something I've done - don't just load me up all the time."
 
 
 
 

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