Rebels outlaw bikies Frank Guarneri, Antonio Guarneri and Dylan Marshall charged with brutal Bendigo gang bashing

Three Rebel bikies have faced court for an alleged vicious gang bashing of a Bendigo man who told the son of a high ranking gang member to slow his motorbike down.

Father and son Rebel bikies Frank (left) and Antonio Guarneri (right) are accused of beating a man and leaving him with serious injuries. Picture: Facebook

Three members of the Rebels bikie gang faced court over an allegedly vicious three-man beating of a Bendigo man with a baseball bat and a kettle.

Patched members of the outlaw motorbike gang Frank Guarneri, 50, his son Antonio Guarneri, 24, and Dylan Marshall, 29, faced Bendigo Magistrate’s court charged in relation to the alleged attack.

Police allege at the time of the arrests those detained were a Rebels OMCG president, a sergeant-at-arms and a patched member.

Frank Guarneri (far left) has been charged over the brutal assault with his son Antonio. Picture: Facebook

About 9pm On May 15, 2023, the victim was working on his work car in the driveway of his North Bendigo home when Antonio Guarneri drove past on his motorbike at high speed.

The victim motioned for the gang member to slow down, the court heard.

It’s alleged the three co-accused, wearing Rebels clothing, turned up to the victim's house shortly after and accused him of throwing something at Antonio’s bike before savagely beating him.

Critical incident Response Team (CIRT) executing the warrant at the Rebels clubhouse in Bendigo. Picture: Victoria Police.

Police allege Frank Guarneri bashed the victim with a baseball bat, saying “that’s my son, I’m going to fucking kill you”.

Police allege Dylan Marshall, an Eaglehawk man, picked up the kettle and smacked the victim him in the face with it.

The victim suffered bruises and bleeding to his face, a migraine for three weeks likely because of a concussion, ongoing tooth pain, removal of a tooth and bruises to his body, the court heard.

The victim has since moved his family to a different address out of fear of the Rebels, the court heard.

Father and son Rebel bikies Frank (left) and Antonio Guarneri (right) are accused of beating a man and leaving him with serious injuries. Picture: Facebook

Magistrate Sharon McRea described the allegations as “revenge” against the victim, with Antonio returning to the address in company of fellow Rebels.

“It is aggression from the get go … they are there for retribution,” she said.

“They’re not there to talk about the cricket” … as soon as they pull up, it’s basically on.”

In court on Wednesday, Antonio and his father negotiated plea deals, with the bikies’ defence team trying to offload the “culpability” for the most severe offending – breaking the victim’s face with a kettle – onto a mystery assailant.

Mr Marshall is accused of beating the victim in the face with the kettle, but is arguing that police do not have enough evidence to place him at the scene.

The Rebel is contesting the charges because the only evidence placing him at the scene was the victim identifying him to police via Facebook, arguing the prosecution's case was shaky.

Rebel bikie Antonio Guarneri outside Bendigo Magistrates' court on Wednesday, February 17.

Rebels bikie gang member Antonio Guarneri has been charged over a Bendigo bashing alongside his father, Frank. Picture: Facebook

Criminal barrister for the Antonios, David de Witt, said the alleged offending of the father-and-son Rebels was less severe than the man who broke the victim’s face with the kettle as he argued they should get community correction orders.

Mr de Witt argued Frank wasn’t the one who bashed the victim with the kettle, leaving less severe injuries with his alleged assault with the baseball bat.

But Magistrate McRae said the Rebel was facing jail time.

“If you come up with a baseball bat to pick a fight and you use that baseball bat in company of others, I think the community would expect you to go to jail,” she said.

Ms McRae said the “only thing” that would keep Frank out of prison would be something in a psychological report.

His case was adjourned while his defence seeks evidence to keep him out of prison on mental health grounds.

Echo Taskforce arresting a Rebel bikie in Bendigo. Picture: Victoria Police.

Meanwhile, his son Antonio pleaded guilty to affray, with the charges of assault in company and intentionally cause injury dismissed.

His case was adjourned for him to comply with a community corrections order assessment.

The three men were arrested after Echo Taskforce shortly after the alleged assault, with police raiding a Long Gully clubhouse and several homes with an armoured car during their probes into the bashing.

Two baseball bats were seized and police are still waiting on forensic examination results.

The Antonios will return to court in April to finalise their plea deals while Mr Marshall will fight the charges levelled against him in July.