Bikie news: $500k reward for Paul Summers 1999 Rebels clubhouse murder

Two decades after the fatal shooting of Paul Summers at a Rebels bikie club, his mother hopes her son may finally get justice after a $500,000 reward was announced.

The grieving mother of a decorated ex-soldier killed by a stray bullet during a shooting at a bikie club two decades ago has issued an emotional plea to the public for assistance

It comes as the NSW Government announces a $500,000 reward for information relating to the cold case murder.

Paul Summers was sleeping at the Gosford chapter club house of the Rebels Outlaw Motorcycle Gang on September 22, 1999, around 3.50am when he was killed by three stray bullets during an attack targeting the club.

The 31-year-old had joined the club on Yandina Rd, West Gosford, during a brief hiatus from his time in the army for a sense of “camaraderie” and to share his love for Harley Davidsons with fellow ex-army friends.

Police will announce a $500,000 reward for information into the 1999 murder of Paul Summers

His mother Robyn Shelley says he was simply “at the wrong place at the wrong time” when he was killed.

“I still feel the intense pain of his loss. I want to blur it out … I will never understand why this tragedy happened, and what I could have done to prevent it.

“Paul had a wonderful army career and leadership roles and skills. He was also a very intelligent musician who loved Harley Davidson bikes.

“He was simply in the wrong place, at the wrong time. He had every right to be there. The gunman didn’t. He was shot behind closed doors, while he was sleeping.”

September 22, 1999: Police search for evidence at a Rebels clubhouse in Yandina Road, West Gosford, where man was killed.

Police Minister David Elliott described the murder as “brutal and wicked,” saying the nation lost a fine young man with a promising future, who may have deployed to East Timor in 1999 if he wasn’t killed.

“Paul was a decorated soldier. He had served in the Australian Army for well over a decade before we took a brief hiatus, at the time that he was murdered,” he said.

“The Australian Defence Force was robbed of a hero. And that is why I’m appealing alongside the police to make sure that anybody that has information comes forward.”

Flanked by the parents of murder victim Matthew Leveson, Ms Shelley said she hoped the reward will help police find out what happened to her son.

“After more than 20 years of indescribable pain, we are hoping that someone will come forward and help identify those responsible for Paul’s death.

“Our family simply cannot rest until we have the answers that we need to finally see justice served for Paul,” Mrs Shelley said.

Police suspect the shooting, which occurred after a club meeting, was related to an explosion that was set off at the Gosford club of rival group the Bandidos the night earlier. There is no suggestion Ms Shelley was involved.

Police at the scene of the 1999 Rebels clubhouse shooting, which has never been solved

Detective Chief Supt Andy Waterman said that while the attack on the clubhouse was itself targeted, Mr Summer was not specifically targeted.

“There was one particular line of inquiry where a rival clubhouse, The Bandidos clubhouse at North Gosford, there was an explosion there the night before,” he said.

“We followed those lines of inquiry as far as we could.”

He said Mr Summer and his friends joined the club “looking for a place in life, camaraderie.”

“It’s not the normal set of circumstances,” he said.

Mr Summers was shot dead while sleeping at the Rebels OMCG club house in Gosford

Homicide Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty said that there were people in the community who were there on the night and know what happened.

“Investigations since 1999 have been hampered by the nature and location of the incident being linked to the outlaw motorcycle gang network,” Det Supt Doherty said.

A bullet-ridden brickwall at the Rebels clubhouse in Yandina Road, West Gosford, after the 1999 shooting.

“We know there are people who haven’t provided police with the whole story. Now, after more than 20 years, it is time for those individuals to come forward.

As inquiries continue, police have conducted a full review of all evidence obtained during the investigation including all forensic evidence and witness statements.

It comes 22 years after detectives from the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad formed Strike Force Phillack to investigate the circumstances surrounding his death.

In 2001, a coronial inquest found Mr Summers had been fatally shot by an unknown person or persons.

In 2003, the NSW Government announced a $100,000 reward for information relating to his death. While several lines of inquiry have been investigated by police, no persons have been arrested or charged.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.