Bikies sent for trial on murder counts

Press, 24 December 1985, Page 6

Bikies sent for trial on murder counts

NZPA-AAP 'ft Sydney Forty-one bikies charged with murder over the Father’s Day massacre last year were committed for trial yesterday. The 41 men, members of the Commhnchero and Bandido motor-cycle clubs, will each face, seven murder charges in a trial early next year at Penrith District Court, in Sydney’s outer western suburbs. A forty-second defendant, Christine Duffy, of the Commancheros, will also face trial on a charge of offensive behaviour. The charges arise from a shoot-out on Father’s Day, 1984, between rival Commanchero and Bandido motor-cycle- clubs. Seven people — six bikies and a 15-year-old girl — were shot dead in a car park of the Viking Tavern at Milperra, in Sydney’s west In committing the defend-

ants for trial, yesterday the magistrate said a history of hostility existed between the gangs and each man was aware a state of war existed that.would result in an inevitable, aD-but H confrontation. Yesterday’s decision . ended a long committal hearing, which began on November 12 last year. The rear of the courtroom has been converted into two dock areas surrounded by reinforced glass to separate the rival groups. The design allows the men full view of proceedings, but wooden dividers ensure the two gangs cannot see teach-other. .The men are being held as remand prisoners in Parklea and Long Bay jails. /The 15 Comanchero bikies are taken ,-to court from Long Bay jail each sitting day and the 21 Bandidos travel from Parklea jail, at Blacktown, in Sydney’s west ft'