THE Gold Coast has long been the backdrop for disputes between rival outlaw motorcycle gangs, but rarely have these arguments spilt into the public sphere. All that changed in 2006 when a violent confrontation between bikies at a public kickboxing event set plans in motion to have the city’s gangs completely dismantled.
Ballroom Blitz
On March 18, 2006, tensions finally boiled over between the Finks and the Hells Angels, in a public beat down that is part of Gold Coast folklore. Dubbed the Ballroom Blitz, in what is arguably the biggest bikie punch-up that set plans in motion that has seen outlaw motorcycle groups all but dismantled on the Gold Coast.
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Just after 10.30pm on March 18, about 40 members of the Finks descended on a kickboxing event being held at the Royal Pines Resort.
A large contingent of Hells Angels were there.
It was like a scene from the wild west, two groups of outlaws, throwing jibes at each other, with innocent bystanders in the firing line.
HISTORY OF BIKIES ON THE GOLD COAST
Then, just like that, the bullets starting flying. Followed closely by chairs, then the fists and knives. The kickboxing event descended into madness.
It took less than a minute for 1500 spectators to flee screaming from the room, leaving about 30 combatants trying to destroy each other.
Several people were seriously injured and others scarred for life. In total five men were shot or stabbed during the infamous brawl.
Although it has never been admitted police believe the fracas was actually an attempt on the life of Christopher Wayne Hudson, a former Fink who had patched over to the Hells Angels and was trying to recruit other Finks members to join him. Hudson was shot twice, by Shane Scott Bowden.
Hudson had been shot in the back and jaw.
Two other bikies were also shot and two more sustained stab wounds.
A civilian, a Sydney teenager, was also shot in the foot as he hid under a table.
Bowden was at one time one of the most wanted people in Queensland, on the run for a month before handing himself in. He was sentenced to six and a half years jail for the attempt on Hudson’s life.
Bowden was also charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm on Ryutara Matsumura. Known as Ray, Mr Matsumura was the kickboxing promoter who was knocked unconscious at the brawl.
Other Finks motorcycle gang members, Ross Glen Thomas, 32, of Alice Springs, and Benjamin Allan Young, 24, of Adelaide, were charged with affray.
Terry Ian Polley, 44, of Adelaide, an alleged member of the Hells Angels, faced charges including unlawful wounding and discharging a firearm.
Tyson James Ward, 28, also of Adelaide, who was an alleged associate of the Finks was also charged with affray.
Hudson is serving a 35-year sentence for murder and attempted murder in Victoria.
Robina Shooting
Children fled, shoppers ducked for cover, as the sound of gunshots rang out on a busy Saturday at the Robina Town Centre.
About 1.45pm on April 28, 2012, an argument breaks out between bitter rivals, Mongol bikie Mark James Graham and a then senior Bandido figure, Jacques Teamo.
Witnesses said they saw two muscular and heavily tattooed men with bum bags yelling and “puffing up” for a fight.
Four minutes later, two gunshots ring out through the packed centre. Teamo is shot in the arm and innocent bystander Kathy Devitt was shot in the hip.
Ms Devitt said during Graham’s trial, “I saw a small shiny gun, that’s basically it. I heard the pop sound,” she said, adding that she immediately felt pain in the back of her right hip and put her hand there.
“When I lifted my hand it was covered in blood.” Ms Devitt said she went to the closest shop, a mobile phone store, and called out: “Could someone please call an ambulance, I think I’ve been shot.”
VICTIM OF BIKIE SHOOTING SAYS SHE HAS FORGIVEN SHOOTER
Graham simply walked out the centre, before he was arrested by police in Melbourne two days after the shooting.
The shooting prompted Police Union president Ian Leavers to say they’d lost control of the streets and a bikie bloodbath was inevitable.
‘‘If bikies are willing to shoot people in crowded shopping precincts, then any innocent person could be at risk from a stray bullet.
‘‘There is a real fear that in the ensuing bikie bloodbath that may erupt on the Gold Coast, many innocent lives will be lost and many people unrelated to organised crime will be murdered in the crossfire.’’
During his trial for attempted murder and unlawful wounding, Graham said Teamo had threatened him with a knife, and he acted in self defence.
The jury found him guilty on both counts and Graham was sentenced to 12 years in jail, having to serve 80 per cent of the sentence.
Broadbeach Brawl
The brawl that sparked the toughest anti-bikie laws in the country, saw upwards of 70 Bandidos and Finks and associates punching on in Broadbeach.
The wild brawl erupted outside the Aura lounge bar in September 2013, sending diners fleeing in terror as enraged bikies threatened and yelled obscenities at police.
Police feared for their lives. Restaurant staff grabbed knives and forks off tables in case they were used as weapons, and locked patrons inside.
What was, at first, thought to be the start of a new bikie war, that would tear up the Glitter Strip, turned out to be a personal grudge between Jacques Teamo and Jason Trouchet.
Teamo began dating the ex-girlfriend of Trouchet, who was a long-time friend of Finks terror team member Nick “The Knife” Forbes, and was a former pro boxer who never lost a fight.
It was alleged Teamo led a “lynch mob” of Bandidos into the dining precinct, to confront Trouchet, following a number of previous flares ups between the pair.
Trouchet threw the first punch fearing he was about to end up “in a coffin.”
The wild brawl was so serious police considered drawing their guns, when Trouchet was confronted by what has been described as a “wall” of Bandidos led by Teamo.
The fight led to a massive police response, with dozens of cops swarming the area arresting a number of Bandido members.
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The bikies then went to Southport police station, almost kicking off another riot, demanding the release of fellow gang members who had been arrested during the brawl.
Two years after the brawl in August 2015, 18 “former” Bandidos pleaded guilty to charges including riot, affray, public nuisance and assault and obstruct police. Rioting carries a maximum penalty of three years’ jail.
They all walked free from court, smiling and laughing. They were given fully suspended jail sentences, fines and in one case a good behaviour bond.
Outside of court Teamo said the prosecution was a “complete waste of time and taxpayers’ money.”
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