Millionaire Paul Picone too scared to face ex-Black Uhlans bikie gang member accused of stabbing him

Millionaire Paul Picone was allegedly stabbed by a former bikie in a Mudgeeraba park last year. Now he is worried about facing him in court.

Paul Picone (left) is too scared for face a former bikie. Source: Facebook

MILLIONAIRE Paul Picone is too scared of the former bikie who allegedly stabbed him in the chest to be in the same building as him, a court was told.

Mr Picone, the alleged victim, is due to give evidence in a committal hearing in the Southport Magistrates Court next week.

Prosecutor Josie Salzman today applied for Mr Picone to give evidence via telephone so he does not have to face his alleged attacker Steven Edward Smith, a former Black Uhlans bikie.

“Coming into the courthouse, even if he is taken into a remote room, the fear of running into the defendant if in the same building would cause significant anxiety (to Mr Picone),” Ms Salzman said.

Smith is accused of stabbing Mr Picone in the chest at Firth Park in Mudgeeraba on August 1 last year.

Ex-bikie Steven Smith arrives at Southport Court. Picture: Glenn Hampson

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Ms Salzman said police allege the motive for the attack was that it came to Smith’s “attention that his wife was having a relationship of sorts with Mr Picone”.

Smith faces multiple charges including grievous bodily harm and wounding.

Ms Salzman said the fear stemmed from the attack.

Smith’s barrister Marty Longhurst, of Moloney MacCallum Abdelshahied Lawyers, said allowing Smith to give evidence by telephone was unfair.

“In this case the witness is a very wealthy man … it’s another instance of stacking the decks against my client,” he said.

Mr Longhurst said if Mr Picone was not in the courtroom it would be hard to judge his credibility.

He suggested Mr Picone give evidence behind a screen and Smith sit out of sight.

Mr Longhurst said the reason for the cross examination was that Mr Picone had not provided police with details of his relationship with Smith’s wife, Carly Smith.

“This wealthy witness who seemed above having his foibles exposed in a brief, is now seeking to hide behind a telephone wire,” he said.

Scene of the alleged stabbing at Firth Park in Mudgeeraba. Picture: Amanda Robbemond

Mr Longhurst told the court Ms Smith went to police in November last year and made a rape complaint against Mr Picone.

Smith found out about the alleged rape the day of the attack on Mr Picone, Mr Longhurst said.

Mr Picone has never been charged over the allegations.

Magistrate Andrew Sinclair said giving evidence via telephone was simply not good enough.

Instead he ordered Mr Picone give evidence from a remote room in the courthouse.

He said Mr Picone would be secure.

“If it can’t be done in a courthouse, where can it be done,” Mr Sinclair said.

The matter will return to court for a committal hearing on August 8.