WATCH: Ex-bikie sergeant-at-arms Brent Simpson in court over Omega Ruston cold-case murder on Gold Coast
Four men have been arrested after the Australia Day death of father Omega Ruston 13 years ago – and police have revealed the reason they believe he was killed.
Police & Courts
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The lawyer acting for an ex-bikie charged in connection to the 2009 shooting of Omega Ruston wants to make a bail application but needs more information from police, a court has heard.
Brent Simpson, a former bikie sergeant-at-arms turned creator of popular podcast, The Clink, was arrested on Tuesday after a renewed investigation into the Australia Day alleged road rage shooting.
Simpson, 45, faces charges of accessory after the fact to murder, perjury, and corruption of a witness.
He was not present in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
Appearing by phone, Michael McMillan from Mark Savic Legal, flagged a possible bail application.
“I want him to make a bail application but I’m unable to. I’m unable to even take instructions on a bail application because of the lack of detail in the material that’s been supplied to me by the QPS,” he said.
The court heard police were following up with investigators to get the relevant information.
Earlier, a law clerk at the firm flagged Mr McMillan’s concern with the corruption of a witness charge and the use of a listening device
“Mr McMillan needs to know what is stated within the recording as there is no detail,” the law clerk said.
The matter was adjourned until Thursday for a possible bail application.
Police in a statement on Tuesday said it would be alleged Simpson provided “immediate assistance to the offenders” after the shooting.
Three other men were arrested in Sydney on Tuesday.
The trio is expected to be extradited to Queensland later in the week.
The reason behind the alleged murder of Omega Ruston
Earlier: One of the men accused of killing Gold Coast father Omega Ruston in a road-rage attack 13 years ago was about to board a flight overseas with $25,000 cash before being arrested, police allege.
Another of the three men nabbed in Sydney overnight Tuesday allegedly shot Mr Ruston from the rear passenger side window in Burleigh on Australia Day, 2009.
Police allege the trio have links to “Sydney Middle Eastern crime syndicates, and Gold Coast and Sydney chapters of outlaw motorcycle gangs”.
A fourth man, ex-bikie turned podcaster Brent Simpson was arrested in Brisbane on Tuesday, accused of “providing immediate assistance” to the alleged killers.
Federal police arrested Haysam Hamdan at Sydney Airport on Monday night. He allegedly tried to board a flight to Dubai and had more than $25,000 cash in his luggage.
Speaking in Sydney after the arrests, Gold Coast Detective Acting Superintendent Chris Ahearn said police had been closing in on the men, but the development meant officers had to act swiftly.
“We were very close to making these arrests, obviously that development overnight brought things forward,” he said.
Bikie cops also arrested alleged former Nomad and Bandidos gang member Paul Younan in a traffic stop in Sydney, while another man was taken into custody at a western Sydney property.
Mr Ruston, a father-of-two, was shot dead in an alleged road rage attack at Burleigh Heads just before 10.30pm on Australia Day in 2009.
Police allege Omega Ruston, a father of two, was leaving Australia Day celebrations at North Burleigh when he was involved the incident.
Police have previously said Mr Ruston got into a verbal exchange with a group travelling in a maroon sedan, while both cars were driving south on the Gold Coast Hwy.
Mr Ruston pulled over not far from the McDonald’s restaurant at Burleigh Heads, nearby Fifth Ave, about 10.25pm where he was shot.
Younan is accused by police of firing two shots from the back seat.
Police will allege the Sydney men were in a maroon sedan.
Supt Ahearn described the apparent road rage incident as “senseless violence and the loss of a young man’s life”.
Simpson, an ex-sergeant at arms of the Bandidos bikie gang turned creator of The Clink podcast, was charged with accessory after the fact to murder.
His case was mentioned briefly in Brisbane Magistrates Court however he did not appear nor was there an application for bail.
Simpson is also facing 18 counts of perjury and one count of corruption of witness-attempts along with his accessory charge.
Law clerk Joshua Roscoe appearing for Michael McMillan, on behalf of Simpson, said they did not have enough information to make a bail application.
“(Mr McMillan) is having issues with charge two – corruption of a witness – and police utilising a listening device. Mr McMillan needs to know what is stated within the recording as there is no detail,” he said.
Mr McMillan then called into the court and said he was unable to even take instructions due to an apparent lack of detail.
Police prosecutions said they would endeavour to provide more material today.
Acting Magistrate Patrick Murphy adjourned the matter until tomorrow for a bail application.
Simpson was remanded in custody.
The Australia Day shooting was subject to renewed investigation by the homicide cold case investigation team and Gold Coast criminal investigation branch following developments in the case.
Supt Ahearn said the review of the investigation had seen significant developments of DNA, fingerprints and ballistics.
He said police would allege the firearm used in Omega’s death shooting was an “identical” ballistics match to a weapon used in drive-by style shooting at a western Sydney tattoo parlour in 2008.
The three Sydney men were arrested on warrants and were expected to face NSW local courts on Tuesday.
Detectives travelled to Sydney on Tuesday where they successfully applied for the men’s extradition to Queensland to face murder charges.
The trio are in custody and are expected to be extradited to Brisbane in the coming days.
Omega’s brother, Nick Ruston, who less than 12 months ago called on the killers to come forward, praised the work of Queensland and NSW police in an emotional response to the arrest.
“Thirteen years ago Omega was taken from our world. Words cannot describe the pain and anguish that have been swayed since his death. Hopefully with this latest turn of events, we can finally get some closure,” he said.
“Omega’s spirit and presence touched so many lives and he will forever live on in our hearts and minds … his legacy is now lived on by his children.”
Omega’s father, Phil, said: “It’s really as much of a surprise to me as anybody.
“We really don’t know anything but ... it would be nice to see justice done.”
Ruston’s sister, Olivia, said the family was ‘over the moon’ at news of the arrests.
“There were lots and lots of tears (of joy),” she said.
“Omega’s daughter Tylah, who was three when he died and is 20 now, was crying and his partner Billie was emotional too.
“We’re all in different states otherwise we’d be screaming and jumping for joy and hugging each other. I guess we just didn’t think it (an arrest) would happen.”
Olivia said police had kept them informed during the 13-year investigation but ‘they can’t give away too much’ and the overnight arrests had come as a shock.
Supt Ahearn urged people with information about the shooting to come forward, appealing directly to gang members, associates, and their families.
“Although police have made these arrests we know that there are still people out there who hold critical information about Omega’s death,” he said.
In March last year a $250,000 reward was announced for information on Omega’s death.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.
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