Murray Mallee Hells Angels ‘bikie’ property searched for evidence linked to four murders
New information prompted a wide-scale search of a sprawling, notorious Hells Angels property near Mannum for evidence in two murder cases, police say, as the hunt rolls into a second day.
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Dozens of police are continuing to search a sprawling rural property used as a base for the Hells Angels.
On Tuesday, federal and state police found a rifle and a shotgun hidden in one of the buildings as well as an old truck believed to have been stolen.
As officers arrived at the property on Tuesday in Ponde, 90 minutes from Adelaide, a known Hell’s Angel member fled the property.
He was chased down and returned to the property where he was interviewed by police and released without charge.
Major Crime Detective Superintendent Des Bray said police “would not commit such a large amount of resources unless they thought there was a reasonable prospect of finding what they are looking for despite the obvious challenges of searching the large, scrubby, undulating property”.
‘What this does show is that some 20 years later we have got new information — there is always information out there and we never consider cases such as these closed,” he said on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, Det Supt Bray said the search was just beginning.
“The objective has been to search the entirety of the property for evidence relating to the 2017 murder of Mark Boyce, who was beaten to death in Elizabeth South,” Det Supt Bray said.
“One person is in custody for that offence and two other people have yet to be charged.
Police are also hoping to uncover a vehicle — a Toyota Echo — connected to the 2017 murders of Mark Boyce that could be located buried on the property.
“We are also searching for evidence of the 1999 fatal shooting of a number of Rebels members in Wright St, Adelaide, and we are hoping to find those firearms on this property,” he said.
Police located tubes they believe are used to store guns that are then buried on the sprawling 15ha property.
The search is expected to last several days as police comb through the shrub and search numerous buildings and vacant land using ground-penetrating radars, dogs, horses and an excavator.
Police hope to turn up evidence in relation to what is considered Adelaide’s bloodiest bikie battle, in which Rebels members Graham Nixon, 33, Sinibaldo Palombi, 35 and Hubert Western, 32, were all shot dead outside their clubrooms on Wright St.
Three senior Hells Angels members were swiftly arrested and charged with multiple counts of murder — thanks to crucial statements given by five Rebels members.
Those charged were Faoud “Fred’’ Chaptini, Peter Threadgold and George Petropoulos — but the case against them eventually crumbled because of the bikie code of silence.
Also in focus for investigators is the January 2017 bashing murder of Mr Boyce in Elizabeth South, who a court heard was “in the wrong place at the wrong time”.
Joshua Roy Grant has been convicted of the crime, but police say two other suspects are still wanted.
The property has been used for bikie events including concerts, drag races and fundraising events.
No expense has been spared to turn the site into a country party retreat for the Hells Angels.
A skid pan, motorbike jumps and a well-lit racetrack adorn the site, which has been used by the club for several years.
The property has also been raided several times by police in relation to numerous investigations.
“We are aware this property has been used in the past and is currently being used to store illegal firearms,” Det Supt Bray said.
“The search has involved dividing the property up into nine separate areas.
“Those have been searched by mounted police, drug dogs, gun dogs and officers using specialist equipment as well as using an excavator to excavate those areas.”
Police mounted units leave the sprawling Hells Angel property in Ponde following an extensive search for evidence related to two murder investigations. @theTiser pic.twitter.com/eZAgGGKPMo
— Mitch Mott (@MitchMottTiser) September 17, 2019
