Bikie boss Mick Hawi guilty of airport killing of Anthony Zervas
ON March 22, 2009, a middle-aged man with the unmistakable wings of the Hells Angels on his T-shirt boarded QF430 in Melbourne alone.
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AT 11.38am on March 22, 2009, a middle-aged man with the unmistakable wings of the Hells Angels logo on his T-shirt boarded QF430 in Melbourne alone.
Derek Wainohu is the Hells Angels Sydney chapter president.
Boarding nine minutes later were five members of the Comanchero, including their leader Mahmoud "Mick" Hawi.
The chance meeting between the rivals sparked a bloody battle as the gangs called in reinforcements to meet them when they landed in Sydney.
Two and a half years after Hells Angels associate Anthony Zervas was left dead on the floor of the departure hall, Hawi was yesterday found guilty of murder.
Hawi stared straight ahead, his wife hyperventilating and screaming outside the court, as the jury went on to find five of his gang members not guilty of the same crime - including the two accused of the acts causing Mr Zervas' death.
The Crown alleged Christian Menzies and Farres Abounader were guilty of murder for smashing Mr Zervas over the head and stabbing him. They were acquitted, with the jury failing to reach a conclusion on a back-up charge of manslaughter.
Three other Comanchero were each found guilty of a lesser charge. David Padovan, the only Hells Angels to stand trial, was acquitted of charges of riot and affray.
The jury heard of a series of scuffles across the airport.
In her opening address, prosecutor Natalie Adams said the initial confrontation began outside gate five, after the Qantas flight disembarked, when Hawi allegedly punched and pushed Mr Wainohou.
The court heard that, as the Hells Angels retreated, Hawi yelled in Mr Wainohou's direction: "Next time I see you, you're going to have bullets through you. You're a dead man walking.."
Ms Adams said the Comanchero then met up with a further seven members and went in deliberate pursuit of the Hells Angels, ignoring their baggage, which remained on the carousel.
Although no CCTV cameras captured footage of the violent clash, the court heard evidence Mr Zervas himself started the fatal second fight by attacking Hawi with a pair of scissors, which the Comanchero boss blocked. Ms Adams said the violence upon Mr Zervas, whose brother Peter was a badged Hells Angels member, had continued when he was on the ground.
The trial heard from two witnesses that the man brandishing the bollard was dressed in white - Hawi.
DNA matching the profile of Hawi was found under Mr Zervas's fingernails.
Justice Robert Hulme remanded Menzies and Abounader for mention on November 17, while Hawi will appear again today to set a date for sentencing.