Ex-bikie Michael Basanovic surrenders to defend murder charge

A FORMER Hells Angels bikie will vigorously contest a murder charge after voluntarily surrendering to police in Sydney's CBD yesterday.

A FORMER Hells Angels bikie will vigorously contest a murder charge after voluntarily surrendering to police in Sydney's CBD yesterday.

The Daily Telegraph was on hand as Michael Basanovic, 47, met with Strike Force Lambourn detectives in the car park of the NSW Crime Commission building on Kent St around 2.30pm.

Basanovic arrived at the location in a black Mercedes-Benz, along with barrister John Korn and solicitor Warwick Korn.

The father-and-son legal team successfully negotiated the delivery of the father and his son, Wade, 21, after a complex series of negotiations with the homicide squad over the past eight weeks.

Basanovic has been wanted by police since March after an arrest warrant was issued over the January shooting of Zeljko Mitrovic - a high-ranking Hells Angel - who was gunned down at his Wetherill Park business on January 15.

Detectives have charged him with the murder of Mr Mitrovic, 45, and a separate charge of reckless grievous bodily harm. His son is facing the same charges.

"They will be contesting the charges, absolutely," Basanovic's solicitor Warwick Korn told The Daily Telegraph.

Basanovic has spent the past five months in Sydney - son Wade has been travelling between Columbia, Ecuador and last Saturday voluntarily returned on a flight from Bali.

"That was his wish, for his son's matter to be dealt with first," Mr Korn said.

"He presented himself to police as he said he would following his son, and his son's safety being assured."

A third man, Brian McGarvie Brown, 33, has been charged with being an accessory after the fact in April after surrendering himself to the Australian Consulate in Kuala Lumpur.

Basanovic is accused by police of being in the company of seven people who allegedly turned up to Mitrovic's Dynamic Transport business around 3.30pm on the afternoon of the shooting.

A heated argument took place outside the building before a group followed Mr Mitrovic to his upstairs office.

A series of shots were then fired, fatally wounding Mr Mitrovic. At least one bullet hit a 31-year-old worker, Michael Bell, in the arm - he is not affiliated with any gang.

Despite the recent developments police said further investigations are continuing into the matter.