WA: Bikie in court over carbomb murders

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WA: Bikie in court over carbomb murders

EDS: Changes keyword from HANCOCK ARREST

By Andrea Mayes

PERTH, Feb 15 AAP - A 38-year-old bikie today faced a Perth court charged with thecarbomb murders of former CIB chief Don Hancock and his friend Lou Lewis.

Gypsy Jokers member Sidney John Reid was not required to plead to two counts of wilfulmurder when he appeared in Perth Magistrates Court.

Wearing black pants, black thongs and a torn and faded black, long-sleeved t-shirtwith a skull emblem and the word "Tattoo" encircled with barbed wire on the sleeve, thebearded Reid spoke only to confirm his name.

He later nodded when chief magistrate Steven Heath asked whether he understood the charges.

Mr Hancock and racing identity Lawrence "Lou" Lewis died when a bomb exploded in theircar as they pulled into the driveway of Mr Hancock's home in suburban Lathlain on September1, 2001.

Police will allege the murders were carried out in retribution for the sniper-styleexecution of Gypsy Jokers member William Grierson the previous year as he sat around acampfire in the Goldfields hamlet of Ora Banda.

Mr Hancock had ejected Mr Grierson and other gang members from his pub just hours beforethe Gypsy Joker was shot in October 2000, and the gang believed Mr Hancock was responsiblefor the killing.

Police will allege Reid agreed to help avenge Mr Grierson's death when he was contactedby another Gypsy Jokers member on August 30 last year.

They will further allege that Reid was given an explosive device by the other gangmember, which he placed under the front passenger seat of Mr Lewis' Holden Commodore onSeptember 1, 2001.

Reid is alleged to have broken into the car as it was parked at a Perth racecourse.

Mr Lewis and Mr Hancock left the racecourse just after 6pm, with Mr Hancock sittingin the front passenger seat and Mr Lewis driving.

The device was detonated at 6.30pm as the pair approached Mr Hancock's house, destroyingthe car and instantly killing the two men.

Magistrate Heath told Reid he could not consider bail because of the nature of thecharges, but said a bail application would be heard by the WA Supreme Court as soon aspossible.

Reid was remanded in custody to seek legal advice.

He will reappear in the magistrate's court on February 22.

AAP alm/was/br

KEYWORD: CARBOMB LEAD