Former prisoner Zachary Froome alleges Comanchero Axel Sidaros admitted role in alleged attempted murder
A former prisoner who told police Comanchero Axel Sidaros admitted his role in an alleged failed hit job has been accused of making up a “pack of lies”.
Canberra Star
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A Comanchero bikie charged with allegedly attempting to murder the gang’s former Canberra chapter president confessed to a fellow inmate in prison, a court has heard.
Bikie Axel Sidaros’s former neighbour at Canberra’s notorious Alexander Maconochie Centre, Zachary Froome, told the ACT Supreme Court “all you do is talk to each other” in jail.
Froome, who has convictions for stalking, intimidation, assault, weapons offences, forcible confinement, fighting in a public place, theft and burglary, said jail was boring “like you wouldn’t believe”, and that inmates constantly gossiped among themselves.
He said it was common knowledge Sidaros was a fully patched member of the Canberra chapter of the Comancheros, which had split into two rival factions, the court heard.
“We were in the cell text to each other and I would always be at his door because he’s a mutual friend and we know the same people,” he told the court.
Froome said he remembered giving his statement to police, but he said he now struggled to remember the actual conversation with Sidaros.
“This conversation was over 12 months ago,” he said.
“(It’s difficult to remember) especially when it’s jail and all you do is talk to each other … and just hear rubbish all the time.”
Froome told police Sidaros said he was “stupid for using his own firearm” and “that’s probably what brought him down”.
Sidaros has pleaded not guilty to a raft of charges including attempted murder and arson, and denies being one of the four masked intruders who stormed Mr Zdravkovic’s home.
Sidaros’s barrister, Ian McLachlan, accused Froome of making up a “pack of lies” so police would not oppose his application for bail and so he could get a lighter jail sentence.
Under cross-examination, Froome agreed it was “part of the agreement … that in coming forward to give evidence (police) wouldn’t oppose bail”.
Froome admitted to using drugs behind bars and said he had issues with drug abuse, but denied being a “junkie”.
He denied letters to parole authorities in which he claimed he was reformed — only to reoffend after being released — were a sign he “knew how to work the system”.
“Those letters were genuinely how I felt at the time,” he said.
When asked whether he “worked the system” to his advantage, Froome said “yes and no”.
When asked whether he was honest, Froome said: “I am now”.
The trial continues.