Outlaw bikie Mick Murray escapes jail term after long legal battle
OUTLAW bikie figure Mick Murray has been spared a jail term after many charges made against him were dropped following a two year legal battle.
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OUTLAW bikie figure Mick Murray has been spared a jail term after a raft of charges made against him were dropped following a two year legal battle.
The feared Comanchero commander has pleaded guilty to two charges and was given a $10,000 fine and time served in jail.
Murray’s guilty pleas to two of 15 charges followed raids on his property and others linked to the bikie club in 2013 and 2014.
All 13 subsequent charges have been dropped.
Murray spent 68 days in custody following the raids and has since been on bail.
On March 31 he pleaded guilty to attempting to pervert the course of justice and a related charge of committing an indictable offence while on bail.
The offence related to pressuring a “victim’’ to “put his hand up’’ for explosives found in a March 2013 raid.
Multiple charges relating to long arms, a handgun and ammunition seized during a subsequent raid were dropped by the prosecution.
Another charge relating to the seizure of anabolic steroids was also struck out.
Raids were conducted on several properties, including those of Comanchero office bearer Robert Morando, who was shot last year, and associate Almir Dzafic.
It is understood the illicit items seized during the raids was not found at Murray’s property.
But it is not known if Murray remains linked to the club.
A condition of his bail was that he stopped associating with bikie members.
A court last year heard Murray was seeking a quieter life away from the demands of the outlaw bikie scene.
Murray was targeted following Operation Crosswings, which raided 63 Comanchero-linked properties simultaneously in early 2014.
Murray, who owns a gym and tattoo parlour in Melbourne’s south-east, came to prominence after his businesses were attacked by rivals.
Murray’s legal matters, however, still remain with the tax man.
Two years ago he was slapped with a bill of more than $10 million in unpaid tax.
The imposing Murray has hired tax lawyers to handle his fight with the Australian Taxation Office.
Prominent bikie figures and major crime players are being investigated over their assets and business revenues.
The anti-bikie Echo taskforce has had an accountant embedded in its office.
Other figures to be investigated by the tax department are Hells Angel Peter Hewat and Carlton Crew identity Mick Gatto, who is fighting the ATO over a $10 million tax bill.