Broadbeach bikie brawl: Restaurant patrons started screaming, running away, court told
Patrons started screaming and running away when a group of bikies began brawling outside a restaurant on Queensland's Gold Coast, a witness has told a court.
Photographer Martin Brooks has testified at the trial of Peter Mauric, who was allegedly involved in a brawl outside a Broadbeach restaurant in September 2013.
Mauric yesterday pleaded not guilty in the Southport Magistrates Court to a charge of riot.
It has been alleged Mauric threatened to unlawfully use violence during the brawl.
Nine of his co-accused pleaded guilty to charges relating to the incident, and will be sentenced at a date to be set.
Prosecutor Jeff Hunter outlined the crown's case yesterday.
Mr Hunter told the court a large group of more than 20 Bandidos entered a restaurant to demonstrate a "collective force" on the night of the incident when they went searching for alleged Finks associate Jason Trouchet.
The court heard when they found him, the group and Trouchet left the restaurant and the brawl began.
Aura restaurant manager Chantelle Pollick testified yesterday about what she saw on the night of the brawl.
This morning, Mr Brooks told the court the restaurant went quiet when a large group of Bandidos bikies entered the premises.
Mr Brooks was working as a photographer for the restaurant on the night of the brawl.
The court heard when the brawl started outside, restaurant patrons started screaming and running away and looked distraught.
The court was shown footage of the brawl filmed by Mr Brooks.
He told the court he felt intimated by the large group of men in Bandidos' colours as they entered the restaurant.
Mr Brooks started filming the group entering the restaurant and leaving, as well as filming the brawl breaking out outside the restaurant.
Defence barrister Jeff Foster asked why Mr Brooks had filmed the men and he replied: "Because people wouldn't believe me if I told them".
Mr Foster asked Mr Brooks if it was exciting having the men in the restaurant.
Mr Brooks said it had been "out of the ordinary" and "yes, it was exciting".
A CCTV camera operator, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, also gave evidence.
He worked for a company called Secure Corp who was contracted by Gold Coast City Council.
He said he got a call from Broadbeach police at 8:21pm alerting him that there was a group of men in Bandidos' colours near the restaurant.
The CCTV camera operator saidhe copied footage of the brawl onto two discs and provided them to police.
Mr Foster asked him if there was any scope for manipulating or changing the footage.
He replied: "No".
Waitress Sarah Page told the court that patrons went quiet when the large group of Bandidos entered the restaurant.
She said her memory of the night was foggy because the events happened almost two years ago.
The trial continues.
Source : ABC News Ashleigh Stevenson May 5th 2015
