Finks bikie boss BJ Reker thrown back in jail after bail overturned

Freedom has been short-lived for Finks boss BJ Reker, who is facing charges after a group of bikies allegedly stormed a man’s house in a revenge plot over leaked nude photos.

Finks bikie boss BJ Reker has had his freedom cut short. Picture: Nicole Garmston

A Finks bikie boss bailed over an alleged bashing linked to leaked nude photos was thrown back in the slammer 31 days later after his freedom was overturned in a rare prosecution appeal.

Heavily-tattooed Brent “BJ” Reker, 33, shook his head in disbelief before knocking knuckles in celebration with his two co-accused, Pierce Williams and Nathan Martinow, in the dock when magistrate Michael McNamara granted them all bail on January 18.

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But their freedom was cut short when Supreme Court judge Christopher Beale agreed with Director of Public Prosecutions Kerri Judd that Mr McNamara had made an error.

He last month ordered all four be returned to prison.

Pierce Williams was one of the co-accused.

Nathan Martinow has also been returned to prison.

Justice Beale said the magistrate had failed to provide reasons for his decision, as required when the exceptional circumstances bail test applies.

“I am mindful of the long court lists in the Magistrates’ Court and the many matters that magistrates have to deal with day in, day out,” Justice Beale said.

“But it is not expecting too much of magistrates to at least provide brief reasons where the liberty of the subject is in issue.

“Providing reasons for such an important decision is an essential part of maintaining public confidence in the decision-making process.”

The court heard Reker stormed a man’s Hampton Park home on September 9 with three other patched Finks — all dressed in their outlaw motorcycle gang colours — and bashed him with a baseball bat and tyre lever, before threatening to kill his partner and children if they called police.

The men had allegedly been enlisted by young mother Tara Egglestone, 29, to stand over the victim after she believed he was responsible for posting naked pictures of her online.

Young mother Tara Egglestone allegedly enlisted the men.

“He’ll never walk again. He’s going to be in a wheelchair,” Reker was allegedly overheard telling Ms Egglestone in a bugged conversation.

In the joint bail application in January, police’s anti-bikie Echo Taskforce detectives told Mr McNamara of their concerns Reker would interfere with witnesses if released.

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After listening to submissions, Mr McNamara stood down to consider his decision for no more than 20 minutes before returning and granting them bail.

A day earlier, Magistrate Michelle Mykytowycz heard a bail application for fifth co-accused Corey Wanakore-Moeke and outlined she would need a week to consider her decision.

A week later, despite knowing her colleague had bailed the co-accused, she refused Mr Wanakore-Moeke’s application.

“I am not satisfied the matters put before me do qualify him for bail,” Ms Mykytowycz said.

In overturning bail, Justice Beale said it was “not reasonably open” for Magistrate McNamara to find exceptional circumstances were met in the case of Ms Egglestone.

As for Reker, he said: “He is charged with very serious offending, offending which involves violence and threats of violence, as well as drug trafficking and firearm offences.

“I consider that he is an unacceptable risk of interfering with witnesses, committing further offences whilst on bail, endangering members of the public and failing to appear.”

All five accused will return to court on April 17.

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