OFF THE WIRE
Nicole Cox
perthnow.com.au
EXCLUSIVE: A ROCK Machine bikie charged over the attempted murder of Rebels president Nick Martin has been brutally attacked in prison, stabbed in the neck with a broom.
The 30-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was seriously injured during a brawl at Casuarina Prison on Saturday afternoon.
A Department of Corrective Services spokeswoman last night confirmed the man had been wounded some time between 4pm and 5pm and had been taken to hospital for surgery.
It is not clear if the broom handle had been fashioned into a dagger-like weapon or if the bloody incident was captured on the jail’s closed circuit surveillance.
The violent stabbing attack is the latest flashpoint in an ongoing feud between the Rebels and rival bikie gang, the Rock Machine, in which a tattoo shop has been firebombed, bikies assaulted and a massive stash of explosives seized in recent months.
``Prison officers responded to an incident at Casuarina Prison,’’ the Corrective Services spokeswoman said.
``It is alleged the prisoner was assaulted with a broom and required surgery for his injuries.’’
``The prison and WA Police are reviewing the incident.’’
The injured man remains in a stable condition in hospital, but authorities said they could not confirm which hospital the man had been admitted to for security reasons.
A Department of Health spokeswoman said she could not confirm details about the injured man.
Sources say there is no doubt the assault is related to the bad blood between the Rebels and the Rock Machine bikie clubs.
The injured Rock Machine bikie stands charged with attempted murder of Mr Martin, wilfully destroying evidence and possessing an unlicensed firearm.
Police allege he went to Mr Martin's home in Attra Place, Balcatta just before 9.20pm on March 18 and fired a gun twice in a drive-by shooting.
One shot hit Mr Martin in the elbow while the second struck a motorcycle parked at the house. He was not seriously injured.
The accused then drove to Bicton, where he set a car on fire to destroy evidence, police allege.
Police have repeatedly warned that the Rebels and Rock Machine gangs are at loggerheads since the Rock Machine set up its national headquarters in WA about 18 months ago and a Rebels member who was removed from the club later joined the Rock Machine.
While police say the feud relates to a turf war over drug distribution networks, those close to the Rebels say the issue is not drug-related but merely a ``clash of personalities'' between members.
The Rebels, which has about 50 members and four clubhouses in WA, is Australia's biggest bikie gang. The Rock Machine, a Canadian-based gang, has about 20 known members and a clubhouse in Myaree.
Casuarina Prison is Perth’s main maximum security jail for male prisoners but also houses minimum and medium security inmates.
coxn@sundaytimes.newsltd.com.au
