Why notorious bikie Shane Bowden fled Melbourne for Queensland
A COVID-positive Melbourne bikie who fled hospital on a flight to Brisbane was not infectious at the time. The news comes as a close friend reveals why Shane Bowden made the ill-thought-out interstate dash.
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Melbourne bikie Shane Bowden was not infectious with coronavirus when he made an ill-fated dash to Queensland, it has been revealed.
Bowden is now the subject of a “serious” criminal investigation after leaving Royal Melbourne Hospital with a gunshot wound and allegedly lying on his border declaration pass to get into Queensland.
Bowden had tested positive to COVID-19 — but fears every passenger on the flight would need to be quarantined were allayed when it was discovered he was ill on August 22 and not infectious when he travelled.
Bowden is back in hospital in Queensland after the gunshot wound in his leg became badly infected.
A close friend of the high profile outlaw motorcycle gang member, who was recently booted from the Mongols, has detailed the reasons behind his mercy dash.
His on-again, off-again girlfriend of three decades, Trudi McPhee, told the Herald Sun he was initially being treated for serious injuries to his leg sustained in an Epping drive-by shooting but then tested positive to the virus.
“He is a pretty wild man, he was already wanted by Queensland police he had told me,” Ms McPhee said.
“He didn’t want to be in Victoria anymore.
“He checked out of hospital because he was very scared, he was worried people were watching him all the time.
“I believe he needs help. He is obviously not thinking properly.”
Ms McPhee, who has a teen son with Bowden, says he last made contact with them three days ago from hospital.
She was aware he wanted to leave Melbourne for the Gold Coast but did not think he would flee so abruptly.
Bowden had also assured her he was keen to stay out of trouble after finishing a five-year prison sentence in June.
“He was very happy to get out of jail,” she said.
“He promised this time he was going to do it right, but the temptation got the better of him. “He’ll go back in (to jail). It is sad but if you want to play those games and do stupid things, that is what you get. He should’ve stayed out of trouble.
“He lived for the Mongols, whatever happened, why he got kicked out — it is not my business. But, when things like this keep happening it is my opinion it is time to hang up your boots and find something else to do.”
Queensland’s Deputy Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said a 48-year-old man arrived into Queensland from Tullamarine Airport on Monday and was immediately placed into hotel quarantine.
Mr Gollschewski said it was only after taking the man to a Gold Coast quarantine hotel that his identity was discovered as someone “known to police”.
“And it would appear (he) has provided untrue information in relation to the border declaration pass,” the deputy commissioner said.
“A criminal investigation is now under way for serious offences as well as failing to properly declare when entering Queensland.
“I’m not going to go into the details of the actual potential offences at this stage, other than to say this is going to be completely and thoroughly investigated by Queensland authorities in collaboration with our Victorian counterparts.”
Ms McPhee said Bowden had rejoined the Finks OMCG after being booted from the Mongols.
In 2006, while a member of the Finks, he shot Melbourne CBD killer Christopher Wayne Hudson in an infamous bikie brawl at a Queensland kick-boxing tournament.
An in-depth investigation into Bowden’s movements is underway.
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