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Carlton stars see kidnap in hotel
By John Silvester
July 30, 2005
 
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Three star Carlton footballers are key witnesses in a major organised crime investigation after a man they were drinking with at a suburban hotel was kidnapped and tortured by outlaw motorcycle gang members.
 
The badly beaten victim was taken to the Austin Hospital the next day. Doctors had to amputate one of his toes, which was mangled - probably with a set of bolt cutters.
 
The three players, Lance Whitnall, Nick Stevens and Heath Scotland, were at the Ivanhoe Hotel drinking with an acquaintance when a group of men, some wearing Hells Angels colours, walked in and abducted the victim.
 
The players were drinking in the upstairs Ruebar when the incident happened about 1am on Saturday June 25 - when Carlton was not playing due to the bye.
 
Witnesses said the man was beaten and then forced into a car and driven away.
 
The victim is Brendan Schievella, whose father Mike "Lucky" Schievella, 44, and partner, Heather McDonald, 36, were murdered in their St Andrews home in 1990.
 
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AdvertisementThe pair, who were known drug dealers, were bound and their throats slashed. The murders have never been solved.
 
Brendan Schievella's uncle, Thomas Schievella, was arrested by the National Crime Authority in 1986 and sentenced to six years' jail for drug trafficking.
 
Police from the organised crime squad are investigating the attack. Stevens and Whitnall provided police with written statements. Scotland was interviewed by police over what he saw.
 
It is believed the players said they were associates of the victim but did not consider him a close friend. They said they had no idea why he was attacked and abducted.
 
The players have co-operated fully with police. Other witnesses have also been interviewed.
 
Police have yet to establish a motive for the attack.
 
If police lay charges against the offenders it is expected the players will be called to give evidence in court.
 
The victim has also been interviewed but is believed to have been unable to shed light on why he was attacked.
 
Mr Schievella is known to have links with several members of the underworld. Police are concerned the attack could lead to payback violence.
 
Carlton Football Club last night released a statement on the incident.
 
"The Carlton Football Club has become aware of an alleged incident that occurred outside a venue earlier this year," the statement said.
 
"The Carlton players were inside the venue and were not involved in the alleged incident," the statement said.
 
The statement made no comment on the fact that the alleged assault began in front of the players before then moving outside.
 
- with Michael Gleeson
 

 

Footy stars see gang bashing
By Paul Anderson
July 30, 2005
From:  
THREE Carlton Football Club big guns have been caught up in an underworld feud after a motorcycle gang bashed a drinking partner with links to Mick Gatto.

 
Blues stars Lance Whitnall, Nick Stevens and Heath Scotland were drinking with the victim when the bikies attacked.
The assault happened in full view of drinkers at a popular bar in Ivanhoe just after midnight late last month.
 
After being punched and kicked, the victim was then frogmarched from the bar and abducted.
 
It is believed he was bashed again somewhere else.
 
Last month, a jury cleared Mr Gatto of having murdered underworld hit man Andrew Veniaman, who was shot dead in a Carlton restaurant in March last year.
 

There is no suggestion the Carlton players were involved in the Ivanhoe affray.
All three have provided witness statements to police.
 
The Victoria Police organised crime squad is investigating the attack.
 
Carlton spokesman Ian Coutts last night said the players were not involved in the incident.
 
"The Carlton Football Club has become aware of an incident that occurred outside a venue earlier this year," he said in a statement.
 
"The Carlton players were inside the venue and were not involved in the incident. As this matter does not involve any of the Carlton players there will be no further comment."
 
When asked if the players knew the victim, Mr Coutts declined to comment.
 
A police spokesman refused to comment on the investigation.
 
It is the second time this year reports have emerged about possible links between AFL players and police investigations.
 
West Coast Eagles captain Ben Cousins and ruckman Michael Gardiner apologised to supporters and sponsors after being linked to Perth gangland identities in May.
 
They included John Kizon, one-time friend of slain Melbourne gangster and killer Alphonse Gangitano.
 
The Eagles' connection to Kizon was thrust into the spotlight after a bloody gun and knife fight between two rival motorcycle gang members at a busy Perth nightclub.
 
Cousins and Gardiner were questioned by police after speaking by phone with a member of the Coffin Cheaters motorcycle gang before and after the nightclub battle.
 
Police have not charged Cousins or Gardiner.
 
There is no suggestion of a link between the Melbourne and Perth incidents.
 


 

 

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