Shane Bowden murder trial date set as October 13 following abandonment on February 3
The nine alleged bikies charged with the brutal execution of ex-Mongol Shane Bowden will face a new committal hearing to be presided over by a lawyer-turned magistrate, a court has heard.
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The nine alleged bikies charged with the brutal execution of ex-Mongol Shane Bowden will have to wait eight months to face a committal hearing, to be presided over by a Legal Aid lawyer-turned magistrate, a court has heard.
In a brief administrative hearing in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday, Magistrate Rosemary Gilbert set October 13 as the new date for the hearing of the week-long case after the February 3 start was abandoned in a shock move.
Ms Gilbert told the court that she will be presiding over the committal hearing.
Greg Cummings, the Deputy Director of the state’s Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions was in court representing the prosecution.
The nine men charged are Haydn Thomas Forbes, from Upper Coomera; Ian Ronald Crowden; Junior Jasmine Torope, from Underwood; James Winston Mau’u, from Helensvale; Joshua James Small, from Pimpama; David Steven Meatuai, from Underwood; Adam John Murphy, from Wanora; Peter Michael Cummins; from Upper Coomera; and Jake Andrew Taylor; from Bellbird Park.
Bowden was a “turncoat” who was allegedly shot dead by his former Mongol comrades.
In just 13 seconds, Bowden was shot 21 times at point blank range in the garage of his Pimpama home on October 12, 2020 while still strapped into the driver’s seat of his girlfriend’s BMW.
On Monday the case fell over when criminal lawyer Michael Gatenby revealed that the Crime and Corruption Commission was not going to provide him or his office with a transcript of evidence given by one of the witnesses in the case.
“My office is withdrawing in respect to Mr Crowden, Mr Cummins, Mr Forbes, Mr Mau’u, Mr Taylor and Mr Torope,” Mr Gatenby told the court on Monday.
Mr Gatenby appeared in court on Thursday representing Mr Cummins as a friend of the court until he can appoint a new lawyer, expected by next week.
Barrister Martin Longhurst, instructed by Gatenby’s firm, appeared in court for Mr Small, who is on bail.
In court today lawyer Mark Butler from Osborne Butler appeared for Mr Forbes; Brendan Beavon from Beavon Lawyers for Mr Torope, and barrister Malcolm Harrison for Mr Taylor, as a friend of the court until he can appoint a new lawyer next week.
Solicitor Corey Cullen was in court representing Mr Meatuai and as town agent for Mr Mau’u for Howden Saggers lawyers; barrister Gavin Webber for Mr Murphy who is on bail; and Joanna McNae from Ashkan Tai lawyers for Mr Crowden.
At a hearing on January 17, prosecution lawyer Eleni Zambas told the court that the relatives of Bowden “have some concerns about coming to the actual courthouse” for a hearing.
Ms Zambas also sought the court’s permission for five prosecution witnesses who police allege are “particularly vulnerable” to give evidence by video-link due to “safety concerns”.
Ms Zambas read the list of witnesses to the court: Zachary Darren Kooymans, 29, Monica Cronin, 28, Martin Adam Vega, 35, Natasha Lee, 45, from Beenleigh and Jamilah Theresine, 27, from Heathwood.
Magistrate Rosemary Gilbert, a former in-house lawyer for Legal Aid Queensland
The case will return to court on April 28 to ensure that all of the nine accused are legally represented.
An application relating to safety concerns by witnesses and for cross-examination of witnesses is listed for July 16.
Ms Gilbert is a former in-house lawyer for Legal Aid Queensland before she was appointed a magistrate in 2019.
Originally published as Shane Bowden murder trial date set as October 13 following abandonment on February 3
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