A pub brawl in outer Newcastle prompted a police investigation, resulting in officers from the Raptor anti-bikie gang task force arresting four men and two women.
The incident took place mid-afternoon on Saturday, 18 February, starting when 36-year-old Blair John Kelly was asked to leave the premises. Police allege he became argumentative, grabbing the female employee’s arm and throwing a glass at the wall.
This triggered a brawl inside the pub involving Kelly and three associates, and other patrons.
The four men left, but returned a couple of hours later and allegedly assaulted several patrons in the carpark. A man unknown to them was knocked unconscious and had to be transported to John Hunter Hospital.
Before police arrived, the four men left again in a vehicle. Newcastle City Police District officers conducted initial inquiries, then referred the matter for further investigation to Raptor North Squad.
Raptor officers made extensive inquiries, and early on Tuesday morning (14 March) they executed search warrants on four properties, in Cardiff, Edgeworth, Gillieston Heights, and Newcastle West. They found five firearms, cannabis, and MDMA.
In total four men and two women were arrested. All were refused bail to appear at Toronto Local Court and Newcastle Local Court on Tuesday and Wednesday.
According to police, all four men are senior members or associates of the Bandidos outlaw motorcycle gang (OMCG).
Kelly and 29-year-old Harley Paul Hendrik Lamotte, both residents of Cardiff, were each charged with 14 offences, relating to assault occasioning actual bodily harm in company, affray, participate in criminal group, unauthorised and unregistered firearms, prohibited drugs, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Kelly did not apply for bail, but it was formally refused. He will reappear at Newcastle Local Court in April.
Police allegedly found a semiautomatic firearm at Lamotte’s unit. The fitter and turner was refused bail, due to reappear at Toronto Local Court in April.
The other two men, a 29-year-old from Newcastle West and a 26-year-old from Gillieston Heights, appeared before Newcastle Local Court charged with offences relating to assault occasioning actual bodily harm in company, affray, and participate criminal group.
Amanda Jay Parsons, 36-year-old partner to Kelly was charged with offences including possess unauthorised and unregistered firearms, after police allegedly found a loaded shotgun and a rifle fitted with a silencer at her address. In court her defence said she denied any knowledge of the guns found at her home and was too intoxicated to remember anything of the brawl at the Minmi Hotel.
Parsons was granted conditional bail, having to report daily to police, and not associate with Kelly or anyone associated with an OMCG.
Tiani Mariah Tauiwi, 32-year-old resident of Cardiff, was charged with seven offences, relating to unregistered firearms. The court heard she had no prior criminal record, and she was granted bail.
Raptor North co-ordinator Detective Inspector Peter Walke warns that police are monitoring activity of the gangs closely, and will not tolerate acts of violence.
“These alleged brawls and assaults occurred in a public bar with innocent bystanders caught up in the middle, this is completely unacceptable behaviour,” said Walke.
“Raptor North officers are continuing to take a strong approach to targeting OMCG activity in the Hunter.
“When you are a member of such a club, you need to expect that you will be under added scrutiny from police. This sort of violence is not on.”
