Twenty-one more were convicted of seven counts of manslaughter and sentenced to terms ranging from ten to 14 years. Taking Vitamin D each day could cut your chances of getting dementia, study claims. The Waco incident will not tarnish their image, Sher said. A career highlight was his three years as director of pay television at TransACT in Canberra, with responsibility for the operations and strategy of its 52 channels. GREAT NEWS! 'My heart and soul's with the army,' Eaves said. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. Sydney, City of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The onetime soldier was also the youngest bikie at the Milperra massacre in 1984 and has seven counts of manslaughter recorded against his name, Eaves is constantly dragged back to September 1984 and the car park of the Viking Tavern where six bikies and a teenage girl were shot dead. It is proper to have regard to the totality of the criminal conduct of which each had been convicted and then sentence accordingly. There was a couple of cars led them in and then a heap of bikes.'. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. No arrests had been made last night. There were only about 15 Comanchero at the Viking but about 40 Bandidos. [12] Solicitor Christopher Murphy acted for the Bandidos' members charged over the incident. Within two hours, more than 100 police from 19 divisions, the Tactical Response Group, the Special Weapons and Operations team and homicide detectives had gathered at the hotel. 'In those days, there was no internet so I could sort of hide a bit, you know,' he said. One sergeant arrived with a young constable and commented, Take a look at this son because youll never see anything like it again. The bikies appeared to be quite proud of what they had done. But like most admirable qualities, these can be carried to excess. As I ran I was worried I was going to get a bullet in the back." Hewas still just 24 when sentenced to life in jail in June 1987 after being convicted along with eight others of seven murder charges. Many mothers and father had turned up with young children to hunt for bargain bikes and parts. The two of them were about seven metres from one of the gunmen. Police say the onetime Comanchero outlaw was involved in an altercation with a 23-year-old motorcyclist about 10.50pm on March 20. Key points: The man was convicted for affray and manslaughter following the 1984 massacre He was one of 33 people tried together for the crime Eaves was not going but that Fathers Day morning a group of Bandidos rode past his home at Westmead. 'To this day I don't understand why he didn't say, "We're not going, we can't take these guys on". One of the 20 injured had his arm chopped off by a machete as two rival bikie gangs, the Bandidos and the Commancheros, invaded the carpark in Beaconsfieid Road at 1.55 pm. Wes Graham, 23, who was on the hotel verandah when the shooting started, said he saw two shots fired in the air and then one man shot in the head. Comanchero vice president Robert 'Foggy' Lane, his sergeant-at-arms Phillip 'Leroy' Jeschke and their comrades Ivan 'Sparra' Romcek and Tony 'Dog' McCoy also died. People actually sat in the hotel drinking while the war was going on outside. Former prisoners who had done their time needed to be given another chance. The car park turned into a battlefield as leather and denim-clad civilians waged a suburban war. [21] It stars Callan Mulvey, Matthew Nable, Susie Porter, Maeve Dermody, Anthony Hayes, Todd Lasance, Luke Ford, Jeremy Lindsay Taylor, Damian Walshe-Howling, Nathaniel Dean and Luke Hemsworth. When Eaves was 17 he joined the Army Reserve, then after several years he enlisted in the regular Army, serving in the Armoured Corps. Eaves, who joined the Comanchero just months before the massacre, did not kill or injure anyone at Milperra. 'It hasn't cost me any friendships or anything like that. Any member found guilty of cowardice will be thrown out of the Club. "I was standing in the driveway with my bike when I saw eight or nine Bandidos ride up," said a member of the British Motorcycle Association. Police responded after receiving reports that a man had gone berserk with a rifle at the Viking Tavern in Milperra and that shots had been fired. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. That matter is still before the courts and Eaves is vigorously defending charges including predatory driving and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. 'Jock invited me to hang around with the club. A famous photo shows Phillip "Bull" Campbell collapsed in grief onto Shadow. When the shooting started he used his military training to stay calm under fire and drag two wounded comrades to the safety of cover. Snoddy's betrayal sparked a feud which culminated in the Milperra massacre. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. She must have died instantly. As Sergeant-at-Arms, he ordered Ross to face charges of breaking one of the ten club rules. "I hit the ground and then got up and ran - like everybody else.". 5. 02:18 EST 01 Jun 2020 Four other members of the Comancheros gang received life sentences for murder and 16 Bandidos received sentences of seven years for manslaughter. Australia News. There were ex-soldiers, tradesmen, council workers, even a serving policeman. Defiance. yes there is Who were the Judges involved with the Milperra massacre? An experimental film Eaves made at UTS won an award which was presented by acclaimed director Baz Luhrmann in the presence of then NSW premier Bob Carr. Two more bikies and a police officer were injured in what ambulancemen said were "little melees" afterwards as police tried to interview witnesses. They had declared war on each other, and once that happens you can be assured a full-scale battle will take place if they meet in public". Two Bandidos and four Comanchero were killed. Members of the Banditos Bikie group appeared at Bankstown Court on charges of affray and serious affront and alarm. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. Staggering on, he was hit again in the head and chest and collapsed. Eaves then gained a Graduate Certificate in Management, Change Leadership and Innovation from Flinders University. 9. 'I've been out of work for about a year, but it's like it just gets harder and harder and harder,' he said. [19], In 2002, Australian film maker Martin Brown produced a documentary titled 1% One Percenters Search for a Screenplay in an effort to raise interest for a big budget movie of the massacre. Illustration from the Sydney Morning Herald, September 3, 1984.Credit:Franklin Johnson. 'There was, I thought, a very good reason for that. 'From the start, I've been hammered by this, that I'm a crazed bikie killer from 40 years ago who's on the rampage again,' he said. He enrolled in a Bachelor of Arts Communication at the University of Technology, Sydney. He is pictured while on bail at Christmas in 1987 with his sister Vanessa who married Comanchero 'supreme commander' Jock Ross, One of the bikies killed at Milperra is pictured lying over his dead brother at the Viking Tavern. Bats, bars, guns and at least one knife were used. Any member found guilty of not helping another member who is in genuine trouble, not bulls*** trouble, will be severely dealt with. Can dementia be spotted in CHILDHOOD? The situation had suddenly changed, and I knew it was a critical moment in which my life was in danger. Glen Eaves was just 22 when he was present at the 1984 Milperra bikie massacre; He did not injure anybody, helped to save others and tried to stop the bloodshed ; The Comanchero and soldier was sentenced to life in prison for seven murders; Those convictions were reduced to manslaughter and he was released in 1988 The fact that seven people were killed is itself a significant, aggravating circumstance as is the fact that there were hundreds of people whose lives were put at risk.'. The judge in the case named the instigator of the violence as William "Jock" Ross, the "supreme commander" of the Comancheros, saying "Ross was primarily responsible for the decision that members of his club go to Milperra in force and armed". From that point Eaves has been running from Milperra. The President is the Supreme Commander of the Comanchero. Bandido member Gregory "Shadow" Campbell was shot in the throat by a shotgun and died instantly. A man grieves over his brother, one of the dead. About 30 shots were fired in 10 minutes, with a pause while the two sides reloaded. "I saw one woman with a baby about six months old. Most of the survivors still alive now were young at the time - in the 1930s and 40s. 'Minutes later seven lay dead - four Comancheros, two Bandidos and a 15-year-old girl.'. . But it was so confusing to me I couldn't tell who was who in this brawl that was going on. The battle, sparked by inter-club rivalries between the Comancheros and the Bandidos, led to the deaths of a 14-year-old girl, four Comancheros and two Bandidos. Several vanloads of motor cyclists were driven away by police for questioning. 'But something from 36 years ago where I never hurt anybody,I'm not allowed to work in an IT department of a church. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. There . 'People screamed, people ran, people hid. The Bandidos pulled up in a group at the western end of the car park and after distributing guns and other weapons, moved to confront the Comancheros president. Bystanders ran screaming from the carpark and people started falling beside cars. 3. And he went, 'No,' blasted me.". Bandidos, Comancheros and bystanders were struck, limbs were broken, people were stabbed, people were shot. The New South Wales Firearms and Dangerous Weapons Act . 'They rode in and saw us. 4. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. Milperra Massacre file.Detectoves lead bikie gang member into campsie police station early today. One of the gunmen paused to drink beer with friends during a lull in the battle. The President is the Supreme Commander of the Comanchero. 'And what it was drawing in those days was a lot of young, disenfranchised young guys that didn't have a father figure,' Eaves said. 'Then all of a sudden the Bandidos arrived and there was a f***ing heap of them. A member of the British Motorcycle Association, a social club, was close to tears as he told of seeing the mutilated body of the girl. Not only that, they'd sent scouts down to identify that we were there. They said get out of the building immediately.'. based on information from your browser. "[8] Garvey was confronted by Raymond Sunshine Kucler of the Comancheros who was armed with a shotgun. One of the gang members, apparently shot dead as he charged toward his opponents, still clutched a baseball bat in his fist. Eaves believed police thought some of those charged would roll over and give evidence against their brothers but apart from one Bandido that did not happen - and not all of his testimony was believed. Any member found guilty of divulging Club business to anyone not a member, unless directed by the President, will be severely dealt with. They dealt drugs and their ex-president was convicted of murder. Almost immediately he was hit in the foot by shotgun pellets. As patriotism can lead to jingoism and mateship can lead to cronyism, so bikie club loyalty, it seems, can lead to bikie club war. A lot of other blokes didn't want to go but Jock said, "OK, we'll go there for an hour, show ourselves". A fierce loyalty and a propensity for violence, which rightly or wrongly typify the popular image of such clubs are clearly indicated by the almost intimidatory appearance adopted, and the emphasis on strength and power to be found in man and machine alike. ', Six bikies and a 15-year-old girl were shot dead in the Milperra Massacre in 1984. Six of the Milperra massacre bikies convicted of seven murders were sentenced to life in prison while three others received terms of 18 or 20 years. All were reduced to manslaughter on appeal. All the Comanchero and Bandidos were charged with murder under the principle of common purpose. "A couple of minutes later I heard gunshots and screaming. I think everyone involved has been scarred by it and continues to be scarred by it. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. ', Eaves enrolled in a Bachelor of Arts Communication at the University of Technology, Sydney. On that day at around 1pm, 19 armed Comancheros entered the car park of the Viking Tavern during the swap meet and took up positions in hiding. The 58-year-old has lost jobs due to his presence at Milperra as a 22-year-old and, he believes, missed out on being hired for plenty more. A man grieves over his brother, one of the dead.Credit:Bruce Miller. 'As patriotism can lead to jingoism and mateship can lead to cronyism, so bikie club loyalty, it seems, can lead to bikie club war.'. We argued and finally he said he would give up his gun if I did the same.". [8], The court case following the "Milperra Massacre" was at the time one of the largest in Australian history. The ugly side to loyalty seems to demand enemies against whom the loyal can be united and the ugly side to physical strength and courage is when when violence is unleashed against those enemies. 'I also wanted to know more about the clubs themselves and what it is about the way of life that they offer that led these people, many of whom would in all other respects be regarded as law-abiding and responsible citizens of commendable character, to indulge in what on the face of it is irresponsible, anti-social behaviour of extreme violence, bringing with it obvious danger to human live, and in the facts of this case, the tragic consequences of seven deaths. 'It is not possible to sit looking at these men for more than one year, as I have a done, without feeling that there is more to them than the popular image of bikie gang members. 3. 'We didn't do it not just because we were tight but because we didn't have anything to give up, we didn't have anything to admit that we were guilty of,' he said. 'It is not possible to sit looking at these men for more than a year, as I have done, without feeling that there is more to them than the popular image of bikie gang members,' Justice Roden said. 10. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. 2. 'There was no crime going on,' Eaves said. Mr Henry Lavelanski, of Flemington, said an alley cleared between the two gangs, who started shooting at each other. 1. 00:34 EST 08 Jan 2021. The Commancheros, Bandidos and some members of the Gypsy Jokers roared into the carpark and started brawling, at first trading punches, then wielding baseball bats and chains. September 21, 1984. . The venue had been widely advertised in the press, motorcycle shops and on power poles. Two days later they arrested Eaves and charged him at Burwood police station. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. Moment fitness influencer asks man to move off park bench 'because he's 'ruining her livestream' - but Mortgage demand plummets to a 28-year low as average interest rates hit 6.71% - just as spring home buying Britain braces for brutal -9C Arctic snap: Met Office warns more snow and ice could lash the country next Is YOUR wood burner at risk? he said. Were sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. Snake said a Comanchero then walked over, "stuck the shotty in me head while I was lying there". Between the second and third shots - a shotgun followed . Some were moving into the Norseman bar of the Viking to hear a band, The Lads. Any member found guilty of divulging Club business to anyone not a member, unless directed by the President, will be severely dealt with. Bull died in jail two years later from a blood clot his family blames on injuries he sustained in the battle. Greg James QC was Juniored by a number of Juniors including John Korn, Kenneth Rosin, Andrew Martin and Philip Young. Only Comanchero president Jock Ross served more than five years. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. ', Jock Ross (pictured) was a father figure to Glen Eaves and encouraged him to join the army. Clashes are common and bloody and disrupt the peace, law, and order of any area, enough for charges to be pressed on either side. Read all Stars Callan Mulvey Only one man, Phillip Bruce 'Knuckles' McElwaine, a Bandido and Commonwealth Games boxing gold medalist, walked free from the court. Now 57, Eaves has been charged with predatory driving, driving furiously to cause bodily harm and assault occasioning actual bodily harm after an alleged road rage incident in Sydney's inner-west. He was yelling 'get down' but I didn't realise what was going on". We are no longer accepting comments on this article. Eaves had only been in the club for a few months before tensions between the Comanchero and Bandidos exploded in bloodshed. Justice Roden found Jock Ross, as Comanchero president, bore 'prime responsibility' for his club's decision to take part in the war. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. Comancheros Gary George 'Peewee' got 20 years, Terrence William Parker 18 years John Francis 'Little John' Hennessey 20 years. More than two years later, on 12 June 1987, the jury delivered 63 murder convictions, 147 manslaughter convictions and 31 of affray. Drag images here or select from your computer for Leanne Walters memorial. Make sure that the file is a photo. First published in the Sydney Morning Herald on September 3, 1984. The battle took place at a supposedly friendly bike meet. 'I didn't want to go. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? It is not possible to sit looking at these men for more than one year, as I have a done, without feeling that there is more to them than the popular image of bikie gang members. The Comanchero were already at the Viking Tavern when the Bandidos arrived. The massacre captivated the nation, made headlines across the globe, and a huge police investigation culminated in about 31 people being tried for murder. 'Some of the guys were there, just a handful of them, and most of them were drunk,' he said. "We are running out of cars to take the weapons away," said one ballistics officer who had just loaded a dozen rifles plus baseball bats and machetes into the boot of his car. 'It was a pretty unhappy family.'. He was distracted by the presence of members of a rival club the Mobshitters and went to the back of the tavern to ensure they were not going to get involved. 'The criminal record came back, I thought they'd just have a bit of a chat to me about it but no. ). 'Bandidos were quickly out of their cars and off their bikes and many began moving towards the Comancheros. Now Playing. 4. Sorry! [5], During the club's 1983 Christmas run fighting broke out between the two chapters, prompting the Birchgrove chapter to break away and form a new club. The clubs had a no drugs policy and Colin "Caesar" Campbell, Sergeant-at-Arms of both Comanchero chapters and Sergeant-at-Arms of the Bandidos after they were patched over, points to the acrimony of the split as the sole reason. 'Or if you're a child molester you're not going to be a school teacher. Another motorcyclist said: "People hid wherever they could. For example, rural landholders, members of an approved gun club and persons engaged in lawful business involving the use of firearms were deemed to have a good reason and the police could refuse to issue licences to any persons they saw as not having a good reason. It was no gangster thing. This is a carousel with slides. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. The crowd scattered when at first two shots were fired from near a car at the back fence of the hotel grounds. A further 28 people were wounded with 20 requiring hospitalisation. Source: Document seized by police after the Father's Day Milperra massacre. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. "When I saw him he was pointing the gun our way, and then the little girl fell. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. Members of that gang had been dissatisfied with the dictatorial leadership of its 'supreme commander' Jock Ross, who ran the Comanchero like a paramilitary organisation.
