Bandido shot after races dispute: crown

OFF THE WIRE
August 18, 2010 - 6:44PM

AAP

A Rebels bikie said, "I think I got one" after shooting randomly at a group of rival Bandidos over a fight at the Geelong Cup races, a prosecutor has alleged.

Bandido Ross Brand, 51, was killed when John Russell Bedson fired at least six shots from a ute outside the Bandidos' Geelong clubhouse on October 22, 2008, the Victorian Supreme Court heard on Wednesday.

A second man, Paul Szerwinski, was shot in the wrist and upper thigh.

Bedson, who is also a member of the Death Before Dishonour club, "intended to kill whoever those bullets hit", prosecutor Chris Ryan, SC, told the jury.

Bedson, 27, remarked "I think I got one" as he was driven away from the Whittington clubhouse after the shooting, Mr Ryan said.

Bedson also later told his associates: "There's a couple of them lying on the ground", it is alleged.

Mr Ryan said the shooting arose out of a fight at the Geelong Cup races between a Death Before Dishonour (DBD) member and a man nominated to become a Bandido.

The DBD member was arrested by police, but the Bandido was not.

This incensed Mr Bedson's brother Derek, Mr Ryan said.

Bedson's barrister Ian Hayden said his client had an agreement with his brother to shoot up the clubhouse.

"John Bedson, in agreement with his brother, Derek, was going to shoot the clubhouse, shoot the clubhouse, not people," he said.

But he said when Bedson arrived he decided not to shoot up the clubhouse because people were there.

"He sees Brand reaching for a gun and he then fires out of fear and panic," Mr Hayden said.

"The fundamental issue for you at this stage, members of the jury, is the defence is there was no murderous intent here."

Giving evidence on Wednesday, Mr Szerwinski, who is not (not) a Bandidos member, told the court he and three other men, including Mr Brand, were standing out the front of the club when he heard bullets ricocheting.

He said they dragged Mr Brand back into the clubhouse.

As he went to get towels for Mr Brand's wounds, he realised he had been shot himself.

Mr Szerwinski said he did not see Mr Brand or anyone at the clubhouse with a gun.

As he played closed circuit television footage of the shooting to the jury, Mr Ryan said jurors would be "surprised how quick life can be snuffed out".

"It is the Crown's case that John Bedson shot at a group of men standing in the doorway at the Bandidos clubhouse, and when he did so, he intended to kill whoever those bullets hit and, accordingly, he intended to kill, he murdered, by that intention to kill, Ross Brand, and he attempted to murder Paul Szerwinski."

The trial before Justice Elizabeth Curtain continues on Thursday.

© 2010 AAP