Shane Bowden’s ex takes social swipe as Nick ‘The Knife’ Forbes launches legal challenge

The former partner of murdered Gold Coast bikie Shane Bowden has taken to social media to celebrate the news of Mongols president Nick “The Knife” Forbes’ arrest.

Bikie kingpin Nick “The Knife” Forbes has launched a legal challenge against a Darwin judge’s decision to refuse him bail.

The Gold Coast-based Mongols national president was arrested on outstanding warrants after flying into the Northern Territory on Tuesday ahead of the gang’s national run from Alice Springs to Darwin.

News of the arrest was celebrated on social media by slain Gold Coast bikie Shane Bowden’s ex, who wrote ‘gotta love karma’.

Nick 'The Knife' Forbes arrested at Darwin Airport on Tuesday. Picture: Glenn Campbell

The 53-year-old was wanted over the violent assault of a Hells Angels bikie rival at a Darwin nightspot in 2014.

Forbes faced Darwin Local Court on Tuesday where he was denied bail and remanded in custody until October 31.

But Forbes’ lawyer, Michael Gatenby, who flew with the bikie boss to Darwin, revealed he had lodged an immediate review of the decision.

Nick "The Knife" Forbes at the Brisbane Domestic Airport on Tuesday, before boarding a flight to Darwin with his lawyer Michael Gatenby. Picture: David Clark

Mr Gatenby said the judge who refused bail failed to take into account the fact that Forbes had surrendered to NT police, had not committed any offences for years and had no breaches of bail since he was 18.

The judge had also placed too much weight on the fact that Forbes lived interstate, the lawyer said.

“I think you’ve got to give credit to a man who, after eight years, surrenders himself,” he said.

Nick "The Knife" Forbes (right) with his lawyer Michael Gatenby at Brisbane Airport before flying to Darwin on Tuesday. Picture: David Clark

Mr Gatenby said Forbes wanted to finalise the outstanding warrants but had been unable to travel to the NT until now because he had been in jail and on parole.

“His wife is pregnant with their second child and he just wants to get rid of the warrant and not have it hanging over his head,” he said.

He suggested Forbes had been treated unfairly because of his notoriety, saying police had arrested him at Darwin Airport despite him travelling to the Top End voluntarily.

“Anyone else would have been able to surrender to the (court) registry,” he said.

The review is expected to be heard in the Darwin Local Court either today or tomorrow.

Slain bikie Shane Bowden.

‘Gotta love karma’: Shane Bowden’s ex celebrates ‘The Knife’ arrest

Slain Gold Coast bikie Shane Bowden’s ex has taken to social media to celebrate the arrest of Mongols outlaw motorcycle gang leader Nick “The Knife” Forbes.

Ten Mongols, including Forbes’ son Haydn, have been charged with the murder of Bowden who was shot 21 times execution-style as he arrived home in his black BMW from a late night gym session on October 12, 2020. Nick Forbes is not accused of any involvement in the murder.

Hayden Forbes, the son of Nick ‘The Knife’ Forbes, has been charged with Shane Bowden’s murder. Picture Facebook

Forbes Sr, the Mongols national president, is also behind bars after being denied bail in the Northern Territory on Tuesday over an outstanding arrest warrant for an alleged attack on a Hells Angels rival at a Darwin nightspot in 2014.

He was arrested at Darwin Airport by NT Gangs Taskforce detectives after flying to the Top End ahead of the Mongols’ “national run” from Alice Springs to Darwin this week.

The bikie boss was accompanied to Darwin by his lawyer Michael Gatenby who has lodged a challenge against the bail refusal.

Bowden’s former partner Trudie McPhee, who had a child with him, took to Twitter to celebrate the recent misfortune that has befallen the Forbes family, long-term contemporaries of her ex in the bikie world.

“Gotta love karma … both father and son in jail …” she posted.

“I hope they all rot in hell.”

Bowden and Forbes were both enforcers in the Finks bikie gang’s “Terror Team” before they and other members “patched over” to the Mongols in 2013 after the-then Newman Government brought in its tough anti-bikie laws.

But Bowden fell out with the Mongols after reportedly defecting back to the Finks.

He was shot in a drive-by shooting in Melbourne in June 2020 before returning to the Gold Coast in September that year, only to be executed weeks later.

Police revealed a GPS tracking device had been fitted to his vehicle in the weeks before he was gunned down in what they alleged was a well-planned assassination.

The Mongols bikies charged with his murder are still before the courts fighting the charge.