One of Australia’s most senior bikie bosses has pleaded with a magistrate not to delay his bail hearing as he launches a bid to get out of jail.
Hells Angels president Luke Moloney was arrested by Echo taskforce detectives earlier this month and charged over an alleged bashing in the Melbourne suburb of Reservoir.
Two other patched members, including Kane Montebello, were also arrested over the alleged violent incident.
Police will allege a man in his 20s suffered upper body injuries when he was assaulted at the Reservoir home.
Mr Moloney, who also heads up the Angels’ relatively new City outfit, was charged with intentionally causing serious injury, recklessly causing serious injury, assault, assault with a weapon, extortion, possessing a schedule four poison and committing an indictable offence while on bail.
His co-accused, Mr Montebello, also appeared in court on Thursday and faces several offences, including intentionally/recklessly causing serious injury, assault and extortion.
Lawyers for both men flagged that their clients would apply for bail on Thursday, but magistrate Robert Stary adjourned the hearing until later next month.
He cited several reasons for the delay, including that Mr Moloney and Mr Montebello both dialled into Thursday’s hearing at Melbourne’s Magistrate Court via phone, which was “completely unsatisfactory”, Mr Starxjmtzywy told the court.
“The alleged offences are of a serious nature. If I am to access this case (properly) … this will require cross-examination of the informant,” he said.
“And I need an opportunity to read the materials properly.”
Mr Stary also said that he wanted all parties to appear in person, though the accused will appear via video link.
When the magistrate informed the two accused that he would be adjourning their hearing, Mr Moloney piped up.
“Is there any chance we can do this today at all?” he asked.
Mr Stary replied: “The short answer is no. This is a difficult case with serious allegations.
“I don’t want you to truncate proceedings to get them over and done with. I’m not taking that risk.”
Mr Montebello had the same query for the magistrate but received a similar reply.
“There’s material served on me now that would be impossible for me to digest and solve today,” Mr Stary said.
A third Angels member was also charged in relation to the alleged assault.
The court was told that CCTV footage, seized phones and DNA evidence would all form part of the investigation.
Mr Moloney, 41, was elevated to national president in July last year.
He is a former boxer who once campaigned to keep a Melbourne boxing centre open.
The matter will return to court on March 25 when the duo will apply for bail.
