OFF THE WIRE
A 31-year-old Perth bikie has been found guilty of shooting the president of a rival gang.
Benjamin Sipkes, a Rock Machine bikie whose identity had been suppressed, had been on trial accused of attempting to murder the president of the Rebels, Nick Martin. He was shot in the arm as he arrived at his Balcatta home in March last year.
The Supreme Court was told the shooting arose out of ongoing conflict between the two gangs and Sipkes had carried it out on the orders of a senior member of the Rock Machine.
After four hours of deliberations the jury acquitted Sipkes of attempted murder but found him guilty of the lesser charge of unlawful wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
He was remanded to custody in high security in prison and will be sentenced next month.
