Hells Angels bikie Wayne Schneider tied to chair, beaten to death, inquest hears
THAILAND police have arrested four Hells Angels bikies who allegedly have links to the murder of international drug dealer Wayne Schneider.
NSW
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THAILAND police have arrested four Hells Angels bikies who allegedly have links to the murder of international drug dealer Wayne Schneider.
In a bizarre coincidence, the arrests came one day before a NSW coroner’s court held an inquest into Schneider’s death.
The court was told today that boxing identity Antonio Bagnato hired four men to kidnap and kill Schneider in 2015.
Documents tendered in court allege Bagnato was attempting to open an overseas chapter of a secretive Sydney organisation known as the St Michael’s Fight Club when he murdered the ex Hells Angel in Thailand.
Pattaya police general Surachet Hakpal said the three Australians and one Canadian arrested on Wednesday were involved in the murder of Schneider.
“Some members of the Hells Angels gang were disguised as tourists and threatened national security as they were involved in extortion, money laundering, illicit drugs and human trafficking. They were the same group of people involved in the murder and secret burial of an Australian two years ago,” Pol. Maj Gen Surachet said.
“These people entered Thailand, married Thai women, were without regular jobs, but had luxury houses and cars and spent lavishly,” he said.
Police revoked their visas and will deport the men.
The NSW inquest also revealed that an Australian suspect left Thailand on December 1, 2015, after the body was found and is being investigated by the Australian Federal Police for his involvement in Schneider’s murder.
Schneider was taken to a rented house later tied to chair and beaten to death before being buried in a grave in a metre deep grave later discovered by Thai police.
At the time Bagnato, referred to as pin up boy for the St Andrews Fight Cub based at Marrickville, was on the run from NSW police over the murder of a racing identity, Bradley Dillon in Leichhardt on August 11, 2014. Police believe Bagnato was with his cousin, Diego Carbone when Dillon was killed over a debt owed to a member of fight club. Bagnato left Australia two days after Dillon’s murder while his cousin Deigo Carbone and another man were arrested, tried and convicted for the murder.
The club’s founder is an ex-bikie called Albert Rick Difloriano, has been called before the NSW Crime Commission to answer questions about the club.
Former world champion boxer Jeff Fenech was formerly linked to the club when he attended a fund raising dinner at the club.
Through his lawyer Danny Eade Fenech said yesterday he knew nothing of the operations of the club and was not a member.
The Telegraph has been told it is a secret society of members, many with criminal links.
The court heard NSW gang Squad and homicide detectives travelled to Thailand after they heard Bagnato had been arrested for killing Schneider, who himself fled Australia in 2012 the day after two massive drug labs were discovered in Camden.
Weeks later test results found Schneider’s DNA all over the equipment.
Police said just hours after the search warrants were executed he flew to Dubai his wife and two children before he moved to Thailand and visited them often.
Sources said before his murder Schneider was one of the biggest importers of illegal drugs into Australia. Both the NSW and Australian crime commissions had significant files on him. At the time he was killed there were 375 intelligence entries and eight outstanding warrants on the former Hells Angel.
A number of Bagnato associates said he spoke of the fight club and that he wanted to set up a chapter in Thailand.
Another witness, Douglas Shoebridge said after the murder he was contacted on Facebook and threatened by someone claiming to be a member of the club.
“I was advised don’t speak about St Michael’ Fight Club being in Thailand — if you do harm will come to your family and your children.
”My understanding of the club that it was just a fight club, with fighters and people who work out in gyms
“I didn’t think anything sinister but later found out after Schneider’s murder it was um not only a fight club, it was involved in other things, underworld figures and drugs and stuff like that.’’
Bagnato was found guilty of the murder of Schneider and sentenced to death. When questioned by NSW Homicide detective Stephen Hunt in his Thai jail known as the “Bangkok Hilton’’ about the fact he could die in prison the boxer was philosophical.
“”Yeh it’s a long prison term for an accident.’’
He refused to answer any further questions about the murder of Schneider’s, Bradley Dillon or St Michael’s fight club.
Coroner Teresa O’Sullivan said she found that Wayne Schneider’s died as a result of blunt force trauma to the head as a result of a homicide. She would publish reasons for her finding in the next few days.
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