OFF THE WIRE
OUTLAWS Vince Focarelli and Michael Sfyris used prison phone calls to declare their brotherly love, preach Islam and plot the rebuilding of the New Boys gang, court documents have revealed.The Adelaide Magistrates Court today released audio recordings of phone calls between Focarelli and Sfyris in December and January.
They were yesterday tendered as evidence in support of allegations Focarelli breached his bail conditions 11 times.
Prosecutors alleged Focarelli, 37, of Wattle Park, breached a non-contact condition of his bail by receiving the phone calls from Sfyris.
Sfyris, who called Focarelli from custody at Yatala Labour Prison multiple times throughout December and January, repeatedly refers to reading the Koran and says he thinks about Focarelli while doing so.
On January 16, Focarelli told Sfyris he was "always there" for him "no matter what".
"Hey brother, you know what you've given me because I lost faith in mankind," Sfyris replied.
"I had lost the ability to love my brothers, you know?
"You've given me that ability back, do you know what I mean?"
The calls also outline the duo's plan to rebuild their former club, the New Boys, that had been abandoned when they became members of the Comancheros Outlaw Motorcycle Gxxg.
"I'm building the New Boys here hard," Focarelli said on January 15.
The theme continued the next day.
"I'll tell you something now, no one is stepping one foot into this brotherhood without having any intentions of converting to Islam," Focarelli said on January 16.
"That is a one billion, I'm telling ya, a billion per cent now, that's it.
"I don't care if I'm stuck with ten (members) for the rest of my life - then so be it, okay."
Focarelli said he was prepared to have a smaller group of followers if that would ensure they were loyal.
"I'd rather live like a lion for one day than like a lamb for the rest of my life and if I'm poor doing so, so be it," he said.
"I'd rather people respect me out of love not fear because, if it's out of love, look at the support you get.
"When it's out of fear they'll give you up cold."
Focarelli told Sfyris one of their members needed to stay out of the spotlight as part of his plans for the gang's future.
"Listen to me carefully: his role is not like ours," he told Sfyris.
"His role is to go to school and fulfil everything to the extreme for his brothers so when we need it, if he's an insurance broker, we get insurance.
"If he's a lawyer he'll help the brothers. If he's a financier he'll help brothers.
"He has to stand up to benefit us (and be a) shining light.
"We don't take him to fight with the boys".
The calls were made while Sfyris was in custody and pre-date the assassination of Focarelli's son, Giovanni.
In court yesterday, prosecutors said the bail agreement, signed by Focarelli in November, banned him from making contact with several people including Sfyris.
However it permitted Focarelli to "communicate with Michael Sfyris for business purposes at Ink Central", referring to the Hindley Street tattoo parlour owned and run by the pair.
Focarelli said yesterday he believed the phone calls were permitted because they were authorised and recorded by the Department of Corrections.
"I truly believed there was nothing wrong with answering the phone and speaking to this man," he said while giving evidence in court.
He was on bail for a charge of aggravated affray relating to an alleged brawl at the Highway Hotel, Plympton, on Melbourne Cup Day last year.
Sfyris is co-accused in that case and was in custody on that charge at the time of Focarelli's alleged bail breaches.
The trial continues.
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