Canberra Comanchero president Pitasoni Ulavalu killed in stabbing at Kokomo’s nightclub as homicide investigators begin probe
Homicide detectives believe the killing of Comanchero Canberra chapter president Pitasoni Ulavalu is the latest flare-up of bikie-related violence in the national capital
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The president of the powerful Canberra chapter of the Comanchero outlaw bikie gang was stabbed and killed in the early hours of Sunday morning in what police are investigating as the latest flare-up of violent bikie-related violence in the national capital.
Pitasoni Ulavalu, 48, was hanging on to life by the time police and ambulance crews arrived at Kokomo’s nightclub in Canberra shortly after midnight.
He died moments later.
He had been stabbed and suffered from massive blood loss, with a second man suffering serious injuries.
Early reports suggested he was stabbed inside the nightclub, and died on the footpath outside.
ACT police forensic crews and homicide detectives were at the bar and the surrounding block all night and early Sunday, and are working on the presumption that Mr Ulavalu’s killing was linked to an ongoing bikie-related feud in the city.
The Comanchero and Nomads are traditional rivals in Canberra.
While serious attempts have been made on the lives of senior officeholders, clashes between the gangs are typically minor.
If police suspicions are confirmed, Mr Ulavalu’s killing will go down as the city’s first bikie-related murder.
Police were on Sunday reviewing hundreds of hours of security camera footage, and were asking for the public to come forward with any mobile phone videos taken on the night.
Mr Ulavalu had been a strong leader of the Canberra chapter, keeping younger members from stepping out of line.
When he last spoke to The Daily Telegraph this week, he was jovial, and was hoping to pose for photographs if he was acquitted of assault and affray.
He had purchased a new suit for the occasion, and had a fresh haircut, with the letters ACCA cut in the back of his head, meaning “always Comanchero, Comanchero always”.
