Appeal hearing for seven bikie-linked men found guilty of murdering Jason De Ieso set down for May 2024

Lawyers for seven bikie-linked men found guilty of murder have outlined why their convictions should be quashed, while concerns have been raised about the appeal judges.

Seven bikie-linked men found guilty of murdering innocent man Jason De Ieso have asked a number of judges be excluded when they argue their cases against conviction at a three-day hearing next year.

On October 10 this year the men – brothers Husain Alzuain, 36, of Goodwood, Mohamed Alzuain, 32, of Mile End and Musa Ali Alzuain, 30, of St Morris, along with Daniel Mark Jalleh, 34, of Clovelly Park, Ross William Montgomery, 38, of Andrews Farm, Kyle Lloyd Pryde, 35, of Adelaide and Nicholas Sianis, 36, of Beverley – were each found guilty of murdering Mr De Ieso at his Pooraka workshop on November 21, 2012.

The Supreme Court jury who delivered their verdicts after hearing five months of evidence and submissions were unable to reach a verdict for an eighth accused, Seywan Moradi, who maintains his innocence.

Jason De Ieso was shot dead in his Pooraka workshop in 2012. Picture: Supplied by family

The seven men found guilty have each lodged notices of appeal against conviction with the Supreme Court.

In a callover hearing in the Court of Appeal, President Mark Livesey asked counsel for each of the men file and serve amended grounds of appeal by mid December, ahead of a further callover hearing.

He also set dates for the filing of further appeal documents and tentatively set three days aside for counsel to argue their appeal grounds before the court in May.

The Director of Public Prosecutions had asked the court to exclude Justices David Lovell, who presided over a number of pre-trial matters, and Justice Sandi McDonald.

Counsel for the seven men also raised issues with Justices Sophie David, Adam Kimber, Julie McIntyre, Anne Bampton and Chief Justice Chris Kourakis hearing any appeal.

Three Supreme Court justices usually preside over matters being heard by the Court of Appeal.

Documents lodged with the Supreme Court for the men set out grounds of appeal, including suggestions that the trial judge, Auxiliary Justice Brian Martin, had erred in his directions to the jury.

The documents suggested Justice Martin had erred “and occasioned a miscarriage of justice” in failing to adequately direct the jury in relation to corroboration of the suppressed key witness, or failing to exclude his evidence.

Some of the men argued the evidence of an investigator, who was called as an expert witness during the trial, was “inadmissable”.

In the documents, each of the accused has asked the guilty verdict be set aside and the conviction be quashed and, for some of the men, that the Court of Appeal find them not guilty of murder.

During the trial, the jury was told Mr De Ieso was an innocent bystander who was shot amid an escalating 18-month feud between warring outlaw motorcycle clubs, the Finks and the Hells Angels.

It heard the intended target of the shooting was then senior Finks member Charles Bonnici who was known to frequent Mr De Ieso’s workshop.

The jury were told each of the men found guilty was either a prospect, member or closely associated with the Hells Angels.

The men will return to court in December.