By Heather McNeill and Mia Egerton-Warburton
Police have charged Joshua Duperouzel with the murder of bikie associate Joe Versace who was shot twice at a workshop in Gnangara on Thursday, sparking a major police operation to catch his killer.
Duperouzel, 25, appeared in Perth Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday after being arrested by police on Monday following a public appeal to find him.
Duperouzel was heavily guarded during his brief appearance and at one stage interjected to say the incident wasn’t linked to the Rebels bikie club: “The club has nothing to do with this case at all ... it’s a personal issue, nothing more,” he told the court.
His lawyers applied for his name to be suppressed in a bid to protect his family, but the magistrate denied the request, noting the “horse has bolted”.
Versace’s mother and sister were also present in court to face the 34-year-old father’s alleged killer.
Duperouzel was arrested in Belmont on Monday following a two-hour manhunt after he reportedly told a bystander to call police.
In calling for the public’s help on Monday, major crime division Detective Inspector Quentin Flatman said Duperouzel was connected to Perth’s bikie gangs.
“Our information suggests that he is on the periphery, that he has some connections with outlaw motorcycle gangs,” he said.
The charge comes two days after police arrested Rebels sergeant-at-arms Joshua Finch for allegedly dumping a bag full of guns at the end of a cul-de-sac in Gwelup.
The 30-year-old was under surveillance at the time.
A former Hells Angels clubhouse in Inglewood also went up in flames hours after Duperouzel was arrested on Monday, fuelling fears of bikie tensions.
With Nine News Perth