Former Comancheros gang leader Vince Focarelli wants taxpayers to pay his legal bill after charges dropped

PROSECUTORS have abandoned the last remaining charges of their fallen case against former gang leader Vince Focarelli, paving the way for him to seek $60,000 in restitution from taxpayer funds.

L-R Vince and Giuseppe Focarelli outside the Adelaide Magistrates Court, where the kidnapping and assault case against them was today dropped.

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PROSECUTORS have abandoned the last remaining charges of their fallen case against former gang leader Vince Focarelli, paving the way for him to seek $60,000 in restitution from taxpayer funds.

In the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Thursday, prosecutors withdrew two driving offences that were left over on Vince’s court file following their abandonment, last month, of assault and kidnapping charges.

However, they said they would continue to prosecute their case against Vince’s son, Giuseppe, and asked the delay-plagued trial resume as soon as possible.

Between 2010 and 2012, ­Vince Focarelli, 41, was the target of six assassination attempts ranging from a flawed bombing to having a gun pulled on him in a supermarket.

An attempt on his life at Dry Creek in January 2012 killed his other son, Giovanni.

In November 2013, Vince and Giuseppe, 20, were charged with aggravated assault and reckless driving offences.

Prosecutors alleged they bashed a man, whose identity is suppressed, in the Adelaide foothills following a high-speed chase through the CBD.

Witnesses, they alleged, saw the “distressed, wailing” man leap in front of a moving truck while Focarelli “shrugged”.

But the alleged victim, who is currently being held in both immigration and mental health detention, repeatedly said he would not give evidence.

Last month, prosecutors withdrew all charges except the driving offences, leaving taxpayers liable to foot the duo’s estimated $60,000 defence bill.

On Thursday, counsel for Giuseppe asked for time to consider their client’s position but indicated their instructions to fight the driving charges had not changed.

Steven Georgiadis, for Vince, asked for a court date to apply to have his client’s costs repaid.

“You will need to list this for argument, but we will have discussions with prosecution in the meantime,” he said.

Gary Phillips, prosecuting, said he wanted time to discuss the costs application with SA Police.

Magistrate David Whittle formally dismissed the charges against Vince and remanded Giuseppe on continuing bail to face court again next month.

Outside court, Vince shook hands with his counsel and son.

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