Comanchero-linked men to stand trial over tattoo parlour drive-by
Three Comanchero-linked men have denied claims they fired shots into a tattoo parlour belonging to ex-Tiger Jake King in order to “send a message”.
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Three Comanchero-linked men have denied shooting up former AFL player Jake King’s tattoo parlour as they were committed to stand trial.
Mustafa Yuksel, 25, Yahya Aboueid, 26, and Hakan Akbal, 24, on Tuesday pleaded not guilty to a series of charges relating to the drive-by shooting at City of Ink on July 14.
Police allege Mr Yuksel and Mr Aboueid sprayed bullets into the South Melbourne shopfront at about 1.50am “to send a message” before fleeing and torching the stolen Hyundai getaway car with the revolver inside. Mr Akbal, 23, was also charged after he picked the pair up following the drive-by.
An earlier court heard the trio was arrested after Mr Akbal was pulled over minutes later for allegedly driving without lights.
They are each charged with discharging a firearm at premises, using a firearm in a public place, using a firearm in the commission of an indictable offence, using an unregistered handgun, theft of a motor vehicle, fraudulently using a registration plate, and arson.
Mr Yuksel, from Dallas, is also facing two charges of possessing drugs.
Magistrate Donna Bakos, following a committal hearing where she heard the key evidence in the case, ordered they stand trial in the County Court.
The prosecutor had told the court the shooters “deliberately did it in the middle of the night to send a message” as opposed to hurt anyone.
City of Ink was founded by ex-Bandido Toby Mitchell and then later relaunched by his friend King, the former Richmond player.
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The court heard Mr Aboueid, from Meadow Heights, was a former patched Comanchero member, while Mr Yuksel was a bikie associate.
Neither they or Mr Akbal, from Dallas, knew King or Mitchell, the court heard.
The trio are on bail with strict conditions including reporting to police, not travelling outside of Victoria and conditions on mobile phone usage.
They are also forbidden from associating with each other and any member of an outlaw motorcycle gang.
They will appear for a directions hearing at the County Court on Wednesday.