Seven bikie-linked men lodge appeals against guilty verdicts in Jason De Ieso murder trial

All seven bikie-linked men found guilty of murdering innocent man Jason De Ieso have lodged appeals against the jury verdict.

All seven bikie-linked men found guilty of murdering innocent man Jason De Ieso at his panel beating business in 2012 have each now lodged appeals against their convictions.

A jury of six men and six women found seven 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 – guilty of murder on October 10 after 30.5 hours of deliberations across six days to conclude a five-month long trial.

The jury did not reach a verdict for an eighth man, Seywan Moradi, 36, of Walkley Heights, who maintains his innocence and will face a retrial on a date to be set.

The men had 21 days to lodge a notice of appeal after the verdicts were delivered.

Six of the men had lodged appeals by November 1, with Jalleh the last of the men to lodge his appeal. His appeal notice was lodged on Friday.

CCTV from outside Jason De Ieso’s business in 2012. Picture: SAPOL

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

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.

In his notice of appeal, Harry Patsouris, for Musa Alzuain, said the trial judge had erred in “failing to properly address the alibi evidence” of Musa and “failing adequately to direct the jury as to what evidence was admissible against each defendant”.

He also asked an appeal be allowed because “comparative evidence against Musa Alzuain was at law incapable of proving his identity”.

Some of the men also 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 gunned down at his Pooraka workshop, Unique Custom Paint and Panel, on November 21, 2012.

It heard he 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.

After the verdict, Dino De Ieso, Jason’s brother, said the scenes and events of that day had an enduring impact on those who knew and loved his 33-year-old brother.

“He was an innocent man going about his business and he had his life cut short by a cowardly and despicable inhumane act,” he said.

“No family should need to ensure such grief, pain or loss. Our lives have changed forever.”

Hearing dates for the appeals are yet to be set.