Shane Bowden death: Family tells of fears ahead of murder hearing for accused

The family of a bikie gunned down execution-style have asked to watch ongoing murder proceedings remotely fearing for their safety, a court has heard.

Former infamous bikie Shane Bowden.

The family of an infamous bikie gunned down execution style have asked to watch ongoing murder proceedings remotely fearing for their safety if they went to a Queensland courthouse, a court has heard.

Ex Mongol Shane Bowden’s family have told prosecutors they wish to watch a preliminary court hearing by video-link, instead of coming into the court in Brisbane’s CBD next month due to “safety concerns”.

The hearing is for nine men accused of Bowden’s murder four years ago.

Five “particularly vulnerable” prosecution witnesses who are set to give evidence in the committal hearing have also asked to appear by video-link due to “safety concerns”, the Brisbane Magistrates Court heard on Friday.

Prosecution lawyer Eleni Zambas told the court that the relatives of Bowden “have some concerns about coming to the actual courthouse” for a hearing next month.

Bowden was a “turncoat” who was allegedly shot 21 times at point blank range by two hooded men, allegedly his former Mongol comrades in the garage of his home at Pimpama on October 12, 2020.

Haydn Forbes. Picture: Facebook

Ian Ronald Crowden. Picture: AAP

The Bowden’s family’s concerns are heightened because the group of killers are accused of making the plan to put a tracker, attached with magnets, on Bowden’s girlfriend’s BMW car when he appeared in the Southport Courthouse twelve days before his murder.

The co-accused include: Haydn Thomas Forbes, from Upper Coomera, Ian Ronald Crowden, Junior Jasmine Torope, from Underwood, James Winston Mau’u, from Helensvale, Joshua James Small, from Pimpama, David Steven Meatuai, from Underwood, Adam John Murphy, from Wanora, Peter Michael Cummins from Upper Coomera and Jake Andrew Taylor from Bellbird Park.

They are all charged with murder with an aggravating circumstance of serious organised crime.

Mr Taylor is also charged with 14 weapons-related charges including one count of unlawful supply of five or more weapons, and these charges were mentioned in court on Friday.

The committal hearing of Bowden’s nine accused killers is set to begin in Brisbane on February 3 and run for a week.

“Your honour my understanding is they would prefer not to attend the building and do it in their own home via a link,” Ms Zambas told the court of the family.

“That might be problematic .. how often it is not working, from experience,” the Magistrate replied.

“I am certainly happy to raise with the family… even another courthouse or another police station or something that we can facilitate a bit easier. I know they probably just have some concerns about coming to the actual courthouse,” Ms Zambas said.

Junior Torope

Murder accused Jake Andrew Taylor

The Magistrate has granted the family the right to watch proceedings via the video-link.

Barrister Gavin Webber, for accused killer Adam John Murphy, did not oppose this.

Mr Webber was the only defence counsel in court on Friday for the brief procedural hearing, and told the court he was acting as agent for the other eight murder accused.

Ms Zambas also sought the court’s permission for five prosecution witnesses who police allege are “particularly vulnerable” to give evidence by video-link due to “safety concerns”.

Ms Zambas read the list of witnesses to the court: Zachary Darren Kooymans, 29, Monica Cronin, 28, Martin Adam Vega, 35, Natasha Lee, 45, from Beenleigh and Jamilah Theresine, 27, from Heathwood.

James Winston Mau'u

Joshua Small

“I have spoken to my arresting officer about the potential of a sealed affidavit outlining information that the Queensland Police Service may have that myself and my learned friends are not privy to, so that will also be produced,” Ms Zambas said.

The defendants oppose this request and the application will be heard in court on February 3.

Mr Webber submitted the application for the five Crown witnesses to appear via video could be heard on February 3, then the rest of the committal could begin on February 4.

Ms Zambas also sought the court’s permission for an order for the state’s corrective services to bring two prosecution witnesses, currently in jail, Chad Kuna and Kippos Kipperick to the court in February, a request which was granted.

David Steven Meatuai

Adam John Murphy

Ms Zambas told the court that six of the accused men do not yet have barristers representing them.

Barrister Angus Edwards KC is representing David Meatuai, and barrister Martin Longhurst is representing Joshua James Small.

In November 2023 alleged Mongols bikie Fidel Gunes was cleared of murdering Bowden after a magistrate dismissed the murder charge.

The case is set to be heard in a large court room to allow for space for nine defendants.

Originally published as Shane Bowden death: Family tells of fears ahead of murder hearing for accused