Key witness in Jason De Ieso murder case signed statements days after offer of $500k reward, court hears

A key witness in a bikie-linked murder trial was offered a $500,000 reward just days before he signed statements to co-operate with police, a jury has been told.

A key witness in the trial of the murder of Jason De Ieso was told he could be eligible for a $500,000 reward just days before he signed his statements to co-operate with police, a court has heard.

The witness, who cannot be identified, told the court he understood a reward was available after seeing it on Crime Stoppers in 2012.

He said a letter from Major Crime detective superintendent Des Bray confirming his eligibility for a reward for his co-operation, if it led to a conviction in the case, was handed to him in 2019 and he electronically signed statements he had made to police a couple of days later.

“After a couple of days of thinking if I am ready or not to do this, I decided that the time is right,” he said.

“I had to do what I had to do … I had to be here and tell the truth.

Winston Terracini SC, for the accused Husain Alzuain. Picture: Russell Millard Photography

Murder victim Jason De Ieso. Picture: Supplied by family

The court heard the arrests of men in relation to Mr De Ieso’s murder began in 2019 soon after the statements were signed.

He said he did not keep a copy of the letter for “safety reasons, in case someone broke into my house”.

He said he “could get $5 at the end of the day”.

“I know I stand to gain up to $500,000 but I’ve lost a lot more than I stand to gain,” he said.

He said the money “would certainly help” but he was giving evidence because he “cared about the truth coming out”.

Winston Terracini SC, for the accused Husain Alzuain, asked the witness if he would have given police any information if they had not found a gun connected to the murder in a car he had been inside.

“I’m thankful that the police did knock and I’m glad that I did do what I’m doing,” he said.

The jury heard the witness became a suspect in the murder case and first gave police information about the case in 2013.

Jason De Ieso murder accused (back row) Kyle Pryde, Nicholas Sianis, Seywan Moradi, (centre) Mohamed Alzuain, Musa Alzuain, Husain Alzuain, (front), Daniel Jalleh and Ross Montgomery. Picture: Timothy Ide

Husain Alzuain, his two younger brothers Mohamed and Musa Alzuain and five other men – Ross Montgomery, Seywan Moradi, Daniel Jalleh, Kyle Pryde and Nicholas Sianis – are each charged with the murder of Mr De Ieso amid a bikie war between the Finks and Hells Angels in November 2012. All eight men, who are either members or closely linked to the Hells Angels, have pleaded not guilty to a charge of murder.

The jury has previously heard Mr De Ieso was an innocent bystander and the men were instead looking for Finks member Charles Bonnici.

The key witness last week told the court he had been asked by Musa Alzuain to “clean and dispose” of the contents of a duffel bag he believed contained weapons. He said Musa Alzuain had handed him a gun police later discovered had been used in the murder a couple of days later.

Images of a revolver the witness says he was given by Musa Alzuain. Picture: Supplied by Courts SA

The court heard the witness told police he had found the gun when he thought he saw a wallet near a train line and collected it on his way to work.

“In my head when I came up with this plan, it sounded believable but anybody could see through those lies,” the witness said.

The court also heard the witness had wanted to become a police officer in his earlier years but his dream fell apart after he was pulled over while wearing shorts belonging to Musa Alzuain that had Hells Angels insignia, including the numbers 81 – which correspond to the letters HA in the alphabet.

The jury has also been told that the key witness had been given immunity from prosecution, dependent on him giving truthful evidence.

The trial is continuing.