OFF THE WIRE
Toby Mitchell remains in hospital with multiple gunshot wounds. Source: Herald Sun
TOBY Mitchell knew he was a hunted man months before the botched hit on him outside his clubhouse.
The Herald Sun can also reveal a gunman out on bail is one of a network of criminals who will be scrutinised over the shooting in Brunswick on Monday.
The gangland figure - a former trusted ally of Carl Williams - is believed to have become embroiled in a grudge against the champion kickboxer.It is believed to have been ignited by an alleged Bandido bashing of Roberta Williams' partner, Rob Carpenter, this year.
It is not known if Mitchell ordered or meted out the alleged punishment.
The Herald Sun will not name the man for fear of reprisals against him. Police are racing against time to lock up the shooters, fearing more bloodshed if they do not find them first. In a day of drama yesterday:
POLICE raided and seized items from the Bandidos clubhouse, including CCTV.
MITCHELL declined to help police.
BANDIDOS members were warned by senior detectives not to seek revenge.
A BURNT-out Ford became a key clue in the manhunt.
Roberta Williams yesterday denied any knowledge of the shooting, declaring Mitchell was a friend.
Williams also doubted she knew anyone with a motive to shoot him.
"I've got no idea why my name has been thrown into the muck," she said.
Williams said there had not been an incident between her partner and any Bandido member.
She harboured no ill-will towards Mitchell
"Are you going to shoot someone just because of a bashing?" she said.
"I wouldn't do it to Toby's mother. Toby's mum is the most beautiful lady."
Asked whether she knew Mitchell had enemies, she said "obviously but it isn't me. I wouldn't want anything to happen to the bloke. I have nothing to lie about".
Friend Danielle McGuire, flanked by bikies as she visited Mitchell at Royal Melbourne Hospital yesterday, was once the de facto wife of Tony Mokbel.
The jailed drug boss made contact with Mitchell last year after being blindsided by the relationship and angered at a lack of access visits with his daughter.
Mokbel at first believed Comanchero Melbourne chapter president Jay Malkoun was linked with Ms McGuire before learning it was the Bandido enforcer.
Meanwhile, Det-Supt Brett Guerin said one family had been lucky not to become unintended victims of the shooting.
"This man was driving down the street with his young children yesterday afternoon, and were it not for the intervention of the car seat or window pile we'd have a dead kid or a dead citizen," he said.
Forensic teams yesterday were examining a burnt-out Ford Territory used by the gunmen found late on Monday in Parkville.
A senior Bandido yesterday told the Herald Sun the victim was not yet in the clear. "He's coming good but we will need to see how he pulls up from the coma - that's the real test," he said.
He was shocked by the shooting. "It's lucky no one else was killed. Some people just don't give a s---. It's such a public place to go and do something like that."
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/shot-bikie-toby-mitchell-feared-he-was-a-target/story-e6frf7jo-1226209608346