OFF THE WIRE
BY: Loukas Founten
abc.net.au
Photo: Acquitted: Vincenzo Focarelli (L) Michael Syfris (R)
Two members of the New Boys street gang have been acquitted of charges over a brawl outside a Hindley Street tattoo parlour in Adelaide.
Vincenzo Focarelli and Michael Jim Syfris were charged with affray over a fight with members of rival Hells Angels members in April last year.During their trial in Adelaide Magistrates Court, prosecutors produced security vision they said showed Syfris using a chair to hit a man and Focarelli swinging a metal pole at the group.
Focarelli suffered facial injuries, cuts and bruises when he was cornered by about five men who pulled
a pole from his hand and used it to beat him.
The prosecution also alleged the vision showed the accused men and an associate limbering up outside the tattoo parlour before they were approached by members of the Hells Angels.
Focarelli's lawyer, Sam Abbott, argued they were not preparing for a fight but looked like a group of relatively-bored men.
He said they were acting in self-defence in what he described as a "full frontal, all-out attack" on his client.
Magistrate Kym Boxall said after viewing the vision he agreed with Mr Abbott.
"I viewed images of Mr Focarelli and Mr Syfris with an associate being attacked by the overwhelming force of 10 men," he said.
"I can't be confident and make any inference that they knew that they were about to be attacked."
He said the prosecution failed to disprove the men were acting in self-defence so he dismissed the charges.
Syfris hugged Focarelli and slapped him on the back after the verdict.
A hearing next month will determine costs.
