BY: Paul Turenne
winnipegsun.com
Canada - A Rock Machine prospect recently told Winnipeg police that his involvement in the city's ongoing biker war is "a badge of honour" that he's ready to die for. That and other details of the criminal feud between the Rock Machine and Hells Angels, as well as their affiliate clubs, came to light Friday during the bail hearing for Amanda Freeman, a 23-year-old Lorette woman who was arrested Tuesday along with two Rock Machine prospects, including her boyfriend. Court heard that Freeman, her boyfriend Guy Stevenson, and another man named Joseph (J.J.) Choken were in Freeman's Dodge Avenger Tuesday, accused of circling a home on Antrim Road in East Kildonan.
Crown prosecutor Brent Davidson told court Stevenson and Choken are known members of the Vendetta Crew, an associate club of the Rock Machine, and that both are considered prospects for the parent club.
Police were watching the house on Antrim Tuesday after receiving a tip that Rock Machine associates were going to target the house and their rivals within.
Fearing something violent was about to happen, the surveillance officers intercepted the Avenger, causing a collision that injured a few of the officers.
Police seized a loaded handgun that was inside a bag in the back seat and a document listing the address they’d been watching. They also seized four photos of local Rock Machine members from one of the men’s wallets.
Davidson said Stevenson wasn’t shy about discussing the gang war when giving his statement to police.
“I don’t think there’s any contention that he’s not a gang member. He admits it clearly in his statement,” Davidson told court. “He says the war is ongoing. He says it’s a badge of honour. He says he’s willing to die for this cause.”
“For Ms. Freeman to come and say ‘I’m simply a girlfriend and my guy is a bad guy and I didn’t know’ simply flies in the face of reality,” he said.
Freeman withdrew her bail application at the tail end of her hearing Friday due to a scheduling concern with the sitting judge, but is expected to re-apply during a new hearing Monday morning.
Police were watching the house on Antrim Tuesday after receiving a tip that Rock Machine associates were going to target the house and their rivals within.
Fearing something violent was about to happen, the surveillance officers intercepted the Avenger, causing a collision that injured a few of the officers.
Police seized a loaded handgun that was inside a bag in the back seat and a document listing the address they’d been watching. They also seized four photos of local Rock Machine members from one of the men’s wallets.
Davidson said Stevenson wasn’t shy about discussing the gang war when giving his statement to police.
“I don’t think there’s any contention that he’s not a gang member. He admits it clearly in his statement,” Davidson told court. “He says the war is ongoing. He says it’s a badge of honour. He says he’s willing to die for this cause.”
“For Ms. Freeman to come and say ‘I’m simply a girlfriend and my guy is a bad guy and I didn’t know’ simply flies in the face of reality,” he said.
Freeman withdrew her bail application at the tail end of her hearing Friday due to a scheduling concern with the sitting judge, but is expected to re-apply during a new hearing Monday morning.
