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The leading barrister who got Cardinal George Pell out of prison is now set to fight for a Canberra bikie’s freedom. It is understood that Bret Walker SC will be briefed to appear for Comanchero Axel Sidaros when the jailed son of McDonald’s mogul Hani Sidaros launches the latest in a series of appeals. Sidaros, 26, was last month cleared of attempted murder but found guilty of six other offences, including arson and intentionally inflicting grievous bodily harm. The charges were laid over a fiery shooting and arson attack on former Canberra Comanchero commander Peter Zdravkovic, who had part of a finger blown off at his Calwell home in June 2018 after falling out with the gang. The reasons for Justice David Mossop’s verdicts, reached at the conclusion of a judge-alone retrial in the ACT Supreme Court, cannot yet be revealed because of a non-publication order. But documents filed in the ACT Court of Appeal by Sidaros’ solicitor Michael Kukulies-Smith last week argue that the six guilty verdicts are “unreasonable, or cannot be supported, having regard to the evidence”. Mr Walker, an appeals specialist widely regarded as one of Australia’s top lawyers, has already won a case for Sidaros. His arguments in the Court of Appeal last year won the 26-year-old his recent retrial and resulted in a 14-year jail sentence being set aside. While another retrial is a possibility, Mr Walker is set to pursue a different outcome this time around with the new notice of appeal revealing that Sidaros is now primarily seeking an acquittal on all charges. A directions hearing for the appeal will be held on February 25. Sidaros may have already been handed a new jail term by then, with Justice Mossop set to hold a sentence hearing 10 days earlier. The 26-year-old junior outlaw, who has been in custody since August 2018, is the only person to have ever been charged with carrying out the attack on Zdravkovic. Police continue to investigate the incident, which involved four assailants. The Canberra Times has previously revealed that suspects still being considered include Canberra Comanchero sergeant-at-arms Aofangatuku Langi.
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Pell lawyer set to fight for Canberra bikie’s freedom
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Bikie Axel Sidaros is launching another appeal after a retrial that resulted in him being found guilty of six charges.
news, crime,
2021-01-25T04:30:00+11:00
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CCTV of the June 2018 incident at the Calwell home of Peter Zdravkovic.
The leading barrister who got Cardinal George Pell out of prison is now set to fight for a Canberra bikie’s freedom.
It is understood that Bret Walker SC will be briefed to appear for Comanchero Axel Sidaros when the jailed son of McDonald’s mogul Hani Sidaros launches the latest in a series of appeals.
The charges were laid over a fiery shooting and arson attack on former Canberra Comanchero commander Peter Zdravkovic, who had part of a finger blown off at his Calwell home in June 2018 after falling out with the gang.
Axel Sidaros at a shooting range before the attack on Peter Zdravkovic. Picture: Supplied
The reasons for Justice David Mossop’s verdicts, reached at the conclusion of a judge-alone retrial in the ACT Supreme Court, cannot yet be revealed because of a non-publication order.
But documents filed in the ACT Court of Appeal by Sidaros’ solicitor Michael Kukulies-Smith last week argue that the six guilty verdicts are “unreasonable, or cannot be supported, having regard to the evidence”.
Mr Walker, an appeals specialist widely regarded as one of Australia’s top lawyers, has already won a case for Sidaros.
Axel Sidaros, who is launching the latest in a series of appeals, outside court.
While another retrial is a possibility, Mr Walker is set to pursue a different outcome this time around with the new notice of appeal revealing that Sidaros is now primarily seeking an acquittal on all charges.
A directions hearing for the appeal will be held on February 25.
Sidaros may have already been handed a new jail term by then, with Justice Mossop set to hold a sentence hearing 10 days earlier.
The 26-year-old junior outlaw, who has been in custody since August 2018, is the only person to have ever been charged with carrying out the attack on Zdravkovic.
Former Canberra Comanchero chapter commander Peter Zdravkovic. Picture: Blake Foden
Police continue to investigate the incident, which involved four assailants.
