Five bikies linked to Broadbeach brawl plead guilty to downgraded charges

FIVE more bikies linked to the Broadbeach brawl have today pleaded guilty to a downgraded charge.

FIVE more bikies linked to the Broadbeach brawl have today pleaded guilty to a downgraded charge.

Four of the men have also applied to have their legal costs — estimated to be tens of thousands of dollars — paid for by the Government arguing their case was politicised from the start.

Former Bandidos George Bejat, Benjamin Thornton and Senad Catic all pleaded guilty to public nuisance after the Crown offered no evidence on the riot charge in the Brisbane Magistrates Court.

BANDIDO BOSS ‘MAN ON A MISSION’

FORMER BANDIDO PREZ ‘A FAMILY MAN’

(L to R) Benjamin Thornton, Zivko Stojakovic, and George Bejat leave the Magistrates Court in Brisbane after a sentencing hearing for the 2013 Broadbeach bikie brawl. Picture: AAP Image

Daniel Ross and Tevita Bulla also pleaded to the downgraded charge of public nuisance while Zivko Stojakovic was discharged completely.

The court heard the men’s behaviour ranged from yelling and abusing police to threatening a member of the public with a throat slashing motion during the mass melee in Broadbeach.

Prosecutor Jeff Hunter, QC, reminded the court the men were part of a group of over 20 bikies dressed in colours “striding about the streets of Broadbeach” during school holidays looking for a rival Finks bikie.

He said the fight outside Aura Restaurant, which went on to see new anti-bikie laws introduced, left women and children cowering behind cars in the street and nearby restaurants forced to lock doors to protect patrons.

(L to R) Zivko Stojakovic, Benjamin Thornton and George Bejat leave the Magistrates Court in Brisbane. Picture: AAP Image

He said the court should consider the “spectacle” of the men’s behaviour and the strong need for the prosecution and not award costs.

Defence barrister Saul Holt, QC, however argued Bejat, Thornton, Catic and Stojakovic all tried to plead guilty to lesser charges from the start but were denied the usual practise of having a conference with police prosecutors.

Mr Holt said the senior police officer on the Gold Coast in charge of the prosecutions said “his hands were tied” and he had orders from above to not negotiate.

Magistrate Michael Quinn will sentence the men and hand down a decision about costs on August 14.

Originally published as Five bikies linked to Broadbeach brawl plead guilty to downgraded charges