news.smh.com.au
Britt Smith
A bikie boss has admitted kicking and punching a man who died after a brawl between the Comanchero and Hells Angels at Sydney airport but he says he didn't want to fight.
Mahmoud Hawi, then national president of the Comanchero motorcycle club, said he only attacked Anthony Zervas because "he was coming at me with weapons".
Hawi, 31, and five fellow club members are standing trial in the NSW Supreme Court for the murder of 29-year-old Mr Zervas, the brother of Hells Angels bikie Peter Zervas.
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The jury has heard how a chance encounter between Hawi and Hells Angels boss Derek Wainohu on a flight from Melbourne led to the March 2009 fatal brawl in Sydney airport's domestic terminal.Hawi acknowledged a long-standing hostility between the clubs, but under cross-examination by crown prosecutor Natalie Adams he denied growling and glaring at Mr Wainohu.
Ms Adams said a flurry of calls was made by various Comancheros and reinforcements arrived at the airport, although Hawi maintained he didn't know of any such plan.
When they got off the plane, Hawi and Mr Wainohu started arguing and a short scuffle broke out.
Hawi told the court that he couldn't recall saying: "Next time we see you you're going to have bullet holes through you. You're a dead man walking."
Later, while leaving the airport, he saw Peter and Anthony Zervas at the check-in area. He said Peter was "yelling and screaming" and asked, "Where do you think you are f***ing going?"
He said there was an argument and Peter ran at him.
"I stopped ... I walked about three or four steps back because I didn't want to fight," Hawi said.
Peter then pulled his hand out of his pocket, revealing a knuckleduster. Someone yelled: "He's got a gun, he's going to shoot".
"I ran for my life," Hawi said, adding Anthony Zervas chased him and then both brothers "were going at me with whatever they had in their hands".
He got away but said Anthony Zervas came at him again with another weapon, hitting him in the tricep and shoulder.
He got to the door and Peter said, "Come back and fight, you wusses". Hawi said he ran to a taxi.
When asked by Mr Dunn if he had wanted to fight the Hells Angels at the airport, Hawi said: "No, sir, I did not".
He also denied striking Anthony Zervas with a bollard, or instructing anyone else to do so.
Ms Adams suggested Hawi had decided to inflict "some really serious injury" on the Hells Angels, but Hawi disagreed.
"My purpose was to get out of there, not fight," he said.
Hawi, Farres Abounader, Ishmail Eken, Zoran Kisacanin, Christian Menzies and Usama Potrus have each pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Zervas.
Hells Angel David Padovan is facing trial on a riot charge, which he has denied.
Jurors previously heard Anthony Zervas died of massive head injuries and stab wounds.
He was kicked, punched and hit in the head with bollards, the crown allege.
The trial, before Justice Robert Allan Hulme, is continuing.