Head of Coffin Cheaters bikie gang
stabbed
January 24, 2005
The sergeant-in-arms of outlawed motorcycle gang, the Coffin Cheaters,
was stabbed in the neck and another man was shot in a Perth nightclub
early on Sunday.
Police named the Coffin Cheater victim as Troy Mercanti.
But it was not known whether the attack at the Metro Nightclub in
Perth's entertainment precinct of Northbridge at 1.30am was random or an
act of retribution in Perth's ongoing bikie wars.
Police spokesman Sergeant Mike Gough said Mercanti's injuries were not
life-threatening and he had already checked himself out of hospital.
But the shooting victim, who is not a member of the bikie gang, was
reportedly in a serious condition in hospital.
Sergeant Gough said police would study nightclub security footage to see
whether anything was captured on camera.
In another overnight incident, a 44-year-old man believed to have bikie
connections, fired shots into the roof of the Red Sea nightclub in
Subiaco about 2am.
He was apprehended by an off-duty police officer and has been charged
and released on bail.
Sergeant Gough said it was not immediately apparent if the two incidents
were related.
"Not as far as we are aware; they are separate incidents with different
people but it is always possible that they are and we are looking at
it," he said.
Police urged anyone with information about either of the incidents to
contact Crime Stoppers.
AAP
Bikie leader's throat
slashed
By David King
January 24, 2005
From:
A SENIOR member of the Coffin Cheaters outlaw
motorcycle club was stabbed in the throat and another man shot during a
violent brawl at an inner-city Perth nightclub.
Within 30 minutes of the attack at the Metro Nightclub in Northbridge
early yesterday morning another member of the Coffin Cheaters was
involved in an incident at a Subiaco nightclub in which shots were
fired.
Police said bikie Troy Mercanti was taken to
hospital after being slashed across the throat but later checked himself
out. The other man, whose name has not been released, was also admitted
to hospital with gunshot wounds to the legs and buttocks.
At Subiaco's Red Sea nightclub shots were fired
into the ceiling. Nobody was hurt and an off duty police officer chased
and apprehended a 44-year-old man, also a member of the Coffin Cheaters,
who has been charged with firearms offences.
Police said they had not yet established a link
between the two incidents but would not rule out the possibility that
the attacks were an escalation of ongoing gang violence between the
Coffin Cheaters and rival gang the Sword Boys.
Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Sells said
police were pursuing a number of leads. "It is of concern that is has
escalated into the public area. There are ongoing operations targeting
these people. Hopefully there will be some severe ramifications for
those involved."
The violence comes in the wake of the death of
senior Gypsy Joker Les Hoddy.
Hoddy, 56, died after suffering a massive heart
attack in Perth on Friday evening.
He founded the Gypsy Jokers in the late 1970s and
hundreds of bikies from across the nation are expected to travel to
Perth to attend his funeral.
Police will meet this week to discuss security
arrangements for the large bikie funeral.
Head of Coffin Cheaters bikie gang stabbed
The sergeant-in-arms of outlawed motorcycle gang,
the Coffin Cheaters, was stabbed in the neck and another man was shot in a
Perth nightclub overnight.
Police named the Coffin Cheater victim as Troy
Mercanti.
But it was not known whether the 1.30am attack at
the Metro Nightclub in Perth's entertainment precinct of Northbridge was
random or an act of retribution in Perth's ongoing bikie wars.
Police spokesman Sergeant Mike Gough said
Mercanti's injuries were not life-threatening and he had already checked
himself out of hospital.
But the shooting victim, who is not a member of the
bikie gang, was reportedly in a serious condition in hospital.
Sergeant Gough said police would study nightclub
security footage to see whether anything was captured on camera.
In another overnight incident, a 44-year-old man
believed to have bikie connections, fired shots into the roof of the Red Sea
nightclub in Subiaco about 2am.
He was apprehended by an off-duty police officer
and has been charged and released on bail.
Sergeant Gough said it was not immediately apparent
if the two incidents were related.
"Not as far as we are aware; they are separate
incidents with different people but it is always possible that they are and
we are looking at it," he said.
Police urged anyone with information about either
of the incidents to contact Crime Stoppers.
AAP