Bradley Bowtell: Ex-Nomads boss has to drop lawyer for Legal Aid, charged over Ian Pullen’s death

A high-profile bikie has been forced to drop his lawyer in favour of Legal Aid as he faces court on a new set of charges in relation to the death of New Zealand firefighter Ian Pullen.

A former Nomads president has dropped his expensive bikie lawyer for Legal Aid as he faced court for his alleged role covering up the death of a firefighter.

Bradley Robert Bowtell, 37, was locked up on Thursday after being sentenced to a minimum 12 months’ jail for supplying ice.

Former Newcastle City Nomads president Bradley Bowtell. Picture: Dylan Robinson.

Bowtell had been represented by Roland Day, whose other high-profile clients have included then-Bandidos sergeant-at-arms Blair Kelly and, more recently, Finks member Benjamin Main.

But court documents indicated Bowtell, who did not appear in Muswellbrook Local Court on Monday, could no longer afford Mr Day, because he was forced to shut down his concreting business for his stint behind bars.

Police allege Bowtell, who was president of the Newcastle City chapter of the Nomads until 2019, failed to provide information and deliberately lied as they investigated the death of New Zealand firefighter pilot Ian Pullen.

Firefighter pilot Ian Pullen was found dead at Singleton in September 2018. Picture: Supplied.

Bowtell has denied the charges, pleading not guilty to one count of hindering a police investigation and two counts of concealing a serious indictable offence.

He was charged late last year, but the matter had been on hold in the Local Court until his drug supply charge was finalised.

Mr Pullen, a husband and father who had come to Australia to help fight bushfires, was found dead on a Singleton street on September 29, 2018.

Police allege Joshua Knight, 29, accidentally hit Mr Pullen with his car, before he and Nicole Mason, 30, allegedly returned to the scene and bashed the firefighter to death, to cover up what had happened.

Joshua Knight has been charged with murder. Picture: Facebook.

Nicole Mason has been charged with murder. Picture: Facebook.

Knight and Mason have each been charged with murder. Knight is also charged with dangerous driving occasioning death and failing to stop and assist after vehicle impact causing death.

Lilli-Jane Kaye Sales, 21, and Ivy-Jean Ward, 27, have each been charged with accessory after the fact to murder, after allegedly helping hide the vehicle. Police allege Sales waited in the car while Knight and Mason killed Mr Pullen.

Bowtell is expected to be present for his next court appearance on June 21.