Ballarat lawyer speaks for bikies

Updated November 2 2012 - 10:48am, first published October 24 2008 - 1:32pm

BALLARAT solicitor Mike Wardell yesterday spoke out on behalf of the Bandidos Motorcycle Club following the fatal shooting of a member in Geelong on Wednesday night. Mr Wardell has been engaged by the club to handle what he described as a "delicate situation" after biker Ross Brand was shot in the head in an attack outside the Bandidos clubrooms in Breakwater, Geelong. Brand, a father of two, died in the Alfred Hospital early on Thursday morning. Mr Wardell said yesterday the level of co-operation between Bandidos and police had been "mistated" by the media."I am only aware of the fact that there has been no member that has provided a signed statement to police at this time," he said. Mr Wardell said he was unable to comment on whether the Bandidos were co-operating in any way with police.He said the club had also advised him that media reports about an altercation involving members at the Geelong Cup on Wednesday were incorrect. The Herald Sun reported yesterday that the shooting came after two rival gang members threw punches at each other in the crowd at the race meeting. Mr Wardell said there was "certainly not" a turf war being waged. "I know nothing of that and any suggestion that there is would be inappropriate," he said. The Bandidos have also taken issue with the reporting of comments and expressions of grief from its website. Mr Wardell said it was not constructive to quote people from the web as they may not be members and did not speak on behalf of the club. Meanwhile, The Rebels motorcycle gang has denied any involvement in the fatal shooting. One Rebels gang member who answered the door at their clubhouse on an industrial site in north Geelong said the club was not involved in the murder of senior Bandido Ross "Rosco" Brand. The gang member also said the club had not yet been visited by detectives working on the case. Geelong is rife with rumours that a revenge attack is imminent following the death of Brand, who was shot in the head as he left the Bandidos clubhouse in Breakwater on Wednesday night.

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