Nine men charged over Shane Bowden murder to head to committal hearing in 2025

One of the nine men charged over the alleged murder of an ex-Mongols bikie leader has concerns about the evidence of a “jailhouse informant”, a court has been told.

Notorious bikie Shane Bowden was gunned down in his driveway in Cox St Pimpama overnight, Picture Facebook

One of the nine men charged with the murder of a notorious Queensland bikie hopes to cross-examine a “jailhouse informant”, a court has been told.

Ex-Mongols chief Shane Bowden, who later patched over to the rival Finks bikie gang, was gunned down outside his Gold Coast home in 2020.

Shane Bowden was allegedly shot 21 times.

In 2021, police charged Peter Michael Cummins, Ian Ronald Crowden, Haydn Thomas Forbes, James Winston Mau’u, David Stephen Meatuai, Adam John Murphy, Joshua James Small, Jakes Andrew Taylor and Junior Jasmine Torope for Bowden’s murder with an aggravating circumstance of serious organised crime.

During a brief mention in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday, a committal hearing date was set for February next year.

Defence lawyer Michael Gatenby – who is representing seven of the co-accused – told the court one of his clients, Mr Small, hoped to have his committal hearing “heard sooner” then February.

Mr Gatenby said Mr Small was the only co-accused who wanted to cross-examine a “jailhouse informant”.

Notorious bikie Shane Bowden was gunned down in his driveway in Cox St Pimpama overnight, Picture Facebook

While Mr Gatenby hasn’t applied to the court yet to hold an earlier committal hearing for Mr Small, he said he understood the DPP would likely oppose any application.

The DPP’s legal officer told the court the Crown would object to the application because the evidence was “cross-admissible”.

“It is opposed on the basis that the Crown is seeking to join them all on one indictment,” she said.

“The evidence of one witness for one co-accused may be relied upon for the entire operation.”

Shane Bowden was allegedly killed in an execution-style murder outside his Gold Coast home. Picture: 7News

The Crown will allege in court the motive for the shooting is linked to Bowden’s falling out with the Mongols.

CCTV footage captured his final moments as two gunmen allegedly shot him 21 times just after midnight on October 12, 2020.

At the time of the arrests in 2021, South Eastern Police Regional Crime Coordinator, Detective Superintendent Brendan Smith, said the arrests were a significant move against organised crime.

“The murder of Shane Bowden involved significant planning by those involved, resulting in a long and complicated investigation, but the dedication of the investigative team and our specialised units has borne fruit,” he said.

Eight of the nine men remain in custody, with only Mr Murphy remaining on Supreme Court bail.

Originally published as Nine men charged over Shane Bowden murder to head to committal hearing in 2025