Hayden Bubner, Comanchero bikie boss, responsible for sourcing firearm in murder plot, court told

An Ironside accused and senior Comanchero boss was responsible for sourcing a sub-machinegun to be used in a drive-by shooting a court has heard.

The South Australian treasurer of the Comanchero bikie gang was allegedly responsible for sourcing a sub-machinegun to be used in a drive-by assassination at Norwood, a court has heard.

Hayden Bubner, 33, of Magill, is charged with conspiracy to murder and participation in a criminal organisation. He was arrested as part of the nationwide Operation Ironside sting.

Mr Bubner appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Wednesday, when he applied for release on home-detention bail.

Prosecutors “entirely” opposed bail because of the seriousness of the allegations and said Mr Bubner had been linked to two mobile phones that were using the AN0M application.

The prosecutor said messages sent on those devices showed Mr Bubner had played a crucial part in a plot to assassinate a bikie associate on a Norwood street.

“The alleged victim was known to Mr Bubner and was a part of the same organisation but became a rival,” the prosecutor said.

“The messages loosely make reference to a power struggle.

“We say this alleged offending is very serious. The accused’s role was to source a sub-machine gun to be used to shoot the victim during a drive-by.”

Hayden Bubner is alleged to be the treasurer of the Comancheros and responsible for sourcing a submachine gun to be used in a planned assassination, a court has heard.

The prosecutor said another man also charged with conspiracy to murder would have been the shooter, while a third stored the firearms and a motorbike to be used in the assassination.

The identities of the other men, along with the victim, have been suppressed in anticipation of upcoming trials in the district and supreme courts.

The prosecutor said a sub-machinegun had been hidden at a Rostrevor park and was found, along with rounds of ammunition and a can of petrol inside a bag, by police.

He said the bag was replaced and police monitored the site as one of the accused allegedly arrived to collect the firearm.

The prosecutor alleged messages taken from the AN0M app showed Mr Bubner was SA treasurer of the Comanchero bikie gang and was involved in large-scale drug trafficking.

Police believe a sub-machine gun found hidden in a Rostrevor Park was destined to be used to commit a drive by shooting. Picture SA Police

The court heard that, despite those allegations, Mr Bubner had not been charged with any trafficking offences.

Kris Handshin QC, for Mr Bubner, said the entire prosecution case was predicated on the opinions of police officers who had read the messages.

“There is an assertion of his involvement without any real evidence at all,” Mr Handshin said.

“This case, although involving very serious allegations, is built on very shaky foundations.”

Mr Handshin said it was “striking” that while the alleged murder plot was being discussed late last year, police could not provide any recent messages referring to the plan.

Magistrate John Wells ordered a home-detention report be prepared ahead of further arguments in the coming weeks.

Originally published as Hayden Bubner, Comanchero bikie boss, responsible for sourcing firearm in murder plot, court told