Milperra massacre
Encyclopedia
The Milperra Massacre was a firearm battle between rival motorcycle gang members on September 2 (Father's Day
) 1984, in Milperra
, a south-western suburb of Sydney
. Seven people were killed: six motorcycle gang members and a fourteen year old female bystander.
broke away and formed the first Bandidos
Motorcycle Club chapter in Australia. This resulted in intense rivalry between the two chapters.
An advertised "British motorcycle swap meet" was placed in a few local press releases, at the Viking Tavern, with a scheduled start at 10 a.m. on Sunday, September 2, 1984.
On Sunday September 2, 1984 around 1 pm, a heavily armed group of Comancheros entered the carpark of the Viking Tavern during the motorcycle part swap meet
with 30 similarly armed Bandidos arriving soon after with a back-up van carrying weapons following close behind. Both sides proceeded to line up at opposite ends of the car park. William George "Jock" Ross, who had founded the Comancheros in 1968, signalled by waving a machete
in the air and the two clubs charged at each other.
Police responded after receiving reports that "a man" had gone berserk with a rifle at the Viking Tavern in Milperra and "a few shots" had been fired. The first of more than 200 police began arriving but the fighting continued for another 10 minutes before they were able to stop it. Four Comancheros died from shotgun wounds while two Bandidos died from .357 magnum
bullets with a 14-year-old bystander, Leanne Walters, also killed after being hit in the face by a stray .357 bullet. A further 28 people were wounded with 20 requiring hospitalisation.
Mark Pennington, one of the first policemen on the scene, was later awarded $380,000 compensation for psychological damage.
, the New South Wales Firearms and Dangerous Weapons Act 1973 was subsequently amended. The court case following the "Milperra Massacre" was at the time one of the largest in Australian history. In total forty-three people were charged with seven counts of murder.
Christopher Murphy, Solicitor, acted for the Banditos' members charged as a result of the incident. Greg James QC
, as he then was, represented all but one of the Banditos' members during their trial, that being Colin Campbell. Greg James QC was Juniored by a number of Junior including John Korn, Andrew Martin, and Philip Young. Mr. Campbell was represented by Mr Greg Woods QC, as he then was.
During the longest joint criminal trial in NSW history, armed members of the Tactical Operations Unit
were stationed in the courtroom and witnesses required armed guards from the Witness Security Unit
to escort them home. More than two years later, on June 12, 1987, the jury delivered 63 murder convictions, 147 manslaughter convictions and 31 of affray. The judge in the case named the instigator of the violence as William "Jock" Ross, the "supreme commander" of the Comancheros, saying "Ross was primarily responsible for the decision that members of his club go to Milperra in force and armed". Ross received a life sentence for his role in the violence.
Eight other members of the Comancheros gang received life sentences and 16 Bandidos received sentences of seven years for manslaughter. Commonwealth Games
gold medallist boxer Philip McElwaine was the only motorcycle club member to be acquitted at trial of the manslaughter and murder charges that were brought against him.
and Granville
chapters of the Nomads, previously affiliated with the Comancheros, defected to the Bandidos. The defection resulted in a new eruption of violence between the Comancheros and Bandidos involving fire-bombings and drive-by shootings. New South Wales Police
set up Operation Ranmore to stop the violence escalating, which has resulted in 340 people arrested on 883 charges as of January 2008.
Father's Day
Father's Day is a celebration honoring fathers and celebrating fatherhood, paternal bonds, and the influence of fathers in society. Many countries celebrate it on the third Sunday of June but it is also celebrated widely on other days...
) 1984, in Milperra
Milperra, New South Wales
Milperra, a suburb of local government area City of Bankstown, is located 24 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district in the state of New South Wales, Australia, and is a part of the South-western Sydney region.-History:...
, a south-western suburb of Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
. Seven people were killed: six motorcycle gang members and a fourteen year old female bystander.
The massacre
The massacre had its beginnings after a group of ComancherosComanchero Motorcycle Club
The Comanchero Motorcycle Club is an outlaw motorcycle gang in Australia, with chapters in Strathfield and Erskine Park. The Commancheros are participants in the United Motorcycle Council of NSW, which has recently convened a conference aimed at addressing legislation aimed against the "bikie"...
broke away and formed the first Bandidos
Bandidos
The Bandidos Motorcycle Club, also known as the Bandido Nation, is a "one-percenter" motorcycle gang and organized crime syndicate with a worldwide membership. The club was formed in 1966 by Don Chambers in Texas. Its slogan is We are the people our parents warned us about. It is estimated to have...
Motorcycle Club chapter in Australia. This resulted in intense rivalry between the two chapters.
An advertised "British motorcycle swap meet" was placed in a few local press releases, at the Viking Tavern, with a scheduled start at 10 a.m. on Sunday, September 2, 1984.
On Sunday September 2, 1984 around 1 pm, a heavily armed group of Comancheros entered the carpark of the Viking Tavern during the motorcycle part swap meet
Swap meet
Swap meet can mean:*Swap meet, a type of flea market*Swap Meet , a song by Nirvana*Swap Meet, a pricing game on the Price is Right game show*Swap Meet , an episode of the television program CSI...
with 30 similarly armed Bandidos arriving soon after with a back-up van carrying weapons following close behind. Both sides proceeded to line up at opposite ends of the car park. William George "Jock" Ross, who had founded the Comancheros in 1968, signalled by waving a machete
Machete
The machete is a large cleaver-like cutting tool. The blade is typically long and usually under thick. In the English language, an equivalent term is matchet, though it is less commonly known...
in the air and the two clubs charged at each other.
Police responded after receiving reports that "a man" had gone berserk with a rifle at the Viking Tavern in Milperra and "a few shots" had been fired. The first of more than 200 police began arriving but the fighting continued for another 10 minutes before they were able to stop it. Four Comancheros died from shotgun wounds while two Bandidos died from .357 magnum
.357 Magnum
The .357 S&W Magnum , or simply .357 Magnum, is a revolver cartridge created by Elmer Keith, Phillip B. Sharpe, Colonel D. B. Wesson of firearms manufacturer Smith & Wesson, and Winchester. It is based upon Smith & Wesson's earlier .38 Special cartridge. The .357 Magnum cartridge was introduced in...
bullets with a 14-year-old bystander, Leanne Walters, also killed after being hit in the face by a stray .357 bullet. A further 28 people were wounded with 20 requiring hospitalisation.
Mark Pennington, one of the first policemen on the scene, was later awarded $380,000 compensation for psychological damage.
Aftermath
As a result of the massacreMassacre
A massacre is an event with a heavy death toll.Massacre may also refer to:-Entertainment:*Massacre , a DC Comics villain*Massacre , a 1932 drama film starring Richard Barthelmess*Massacre, a 1956 Western starring Dane Clark...
, the New South Wales Firearms and Dangerous Weapons Act 1973 was subsequently amended. The court case following the "Milperra Massacre" was at the time one of the largest in Australian history. In total forty-three people were charged with seven counts of murder.
Christopher Murphy, Solicitor, acted for the Banditos' members charged as a result of the incident. Greg James QC
Greg James (judge)
Justice Greg James born 15 September 1944, is a former Judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales. He is believed to be the youngest Queen's Counsel ever appointed in New South Wales, he is recognised as one of Australia's leading Appellate court Counsel, and he was the first Australian War...
, as he then was, represented all but one of the Banditos' members during their trial, that being Colin Campbell. Greg James QC was Juniored by a number of Junior including John Korn, Andrew Martin, and Philip Young. Mr. Campbell was represented by Mr Greg Woods QC, as he then was.
During the longest joint criminal trial in NSW history, armed members of the Tactical Operations Unit
State Protection Group
The State Protection Group is part of the Specialist Operations division of the New South Wales Police Force, having been established in 1991 to deal with extraordinary policing responses. The SPG directly supports police in high-risk incidents such as sieges with specialised tactical,...
were stationed in the courtroom and witnesses required armed guards from the Witness Security Unit
State Protection Group
The State Protection Group is part of the Specialist Operations division of the New South Wales Police Force, having been established in 1991 to deal with extraordinary policing responses. The SPG directly supports police in high-risk incidents such as sieges with specialised tactical,...
to escort them home. More than two years later, on June 12, 1987, the jury delivered 63 murder convictions, 147 manslaughter convictions and 31 of affray. The judge in the case named the instigator of the violence as William "Jock" Ross, the "supreme commander" of the Comancheros, saying "Ross was primarily responsible for the decision that members of his club go to Milperra in force and armed". Ross received a life sentence for his role in the violence.
Eight other members of the Comancheros gang received life sentences and 16 Bandidos received sentences of seven years for manslaughter. Commonwealth Games
Commonwealth Games
The Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years....
gold medallist boxer Philip McElwaine was the only motorcycle club member to be acquitted at trial of the manslaughter and murder charges that were brought against him.
2007
In a repeat of the circumstances that led to the Milperra massacre, in early 2007 more than 60 members of the ParramattaParramatta, New South Wales
Parramatta is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located in Greater Western Sydney west of the Sydney central business district on the banks of the Parramatta River. Parramatta is the administrative seat of the Local Government Area of the City of Parramatta...
and Granville
Granville, New South Wales
Granville, is a suburb in western Sydney, Australia. Granville is located west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Parramatta. A small part in the north-west is located in the Local Government Area of the City of Holroyd.South Granville is a...
chapters of the Nomads, previously affiliated with the Comancheros, defected to the Bandidos. The defection resulted in a new eruption of violence between the Comancheros and Bandidos involving fire-bombings and drive-by shootings. New South Wales Police
New South Wales Police
The New South Wales Police Force is the primary law enforcement agency in the State of New South Wales, Australia. It is an agency of the Government of New South Wales within the New South Wales Ministry for Police...
set up Operation Ranmore to stop the violence escalating, which has resulted in 340 people arrested on 883 charges as of January 2008.