BIKER NEWS -- Police from Victoria's anti-bikie taskforce allegedly found evidence of firearms manufacture at the home of a seni...
BIKER NEWS -- Police from Victoria's anti-bikie taskforce allegedly found evidence of firearms manufacture at the home of a senior gang member shot on Sunday night.
Shane Middleton, sergeant-at-arms of the Mongols bikie gang, appeared in a Melbourne court on Monday charged with drugs and weapons offences and on crutches and in a brace after being shot in the knee.
A taskforce detective later told a bail application by Mr Middleton's partner - who drove him to hospital after the shooting - that the ecstasy pills, a gun grip and ammunition was found during a search of the car.
Detective Senior Constable Andrew Broad said a search of a Seabrook house found a handgun, ammunition and what appeared to be the manufacture of firearms in the garage.
Detective Broad told Melbourne Magistrates Court that the co-accused Renee Comeadow faced charges from items allegedly found in the car but none after the search of the residence.
He told defence lawyer Sarah Pratt that the investigation over the house search focused more on Mr Middleton, 25, who, along with Ms Comeadow, 26, is charged with trafficking a commercial quantity of drugs.
Each are also charged over the other items allegedly found in the car at the hospital.
Before their appearances, police issued a statement that each of the accused had not cooperated during the investigation.
At Mr Middleton's earlier appearance at a filing hearing, when he did not apply for bail, Ms Pratt asked magistrate Joanne Metcalf to note that he had a gunshot wound that required medical attention and surgery.
Prosecutor Susanna Locke confirmed Ms Pratt's statements in court in applying for bail for Ms Comeadow that while there was a threshold of exceptional circumstances, there was only a formal opposition to her bail.
Ms Locke said there was no allegation that she was an unacceptable risk provided stringent bail conditions were set.
Detective Broad agreed with Ms Pratt in cross examination that Ms Comeadow was the mother of a young daughter and that they lived at a stable and appropriate residence.
Ms Pratt said that her client was the primary carer of the child and had no criminal history.
In granting bail, Ms Metcalf said she was persuaded there were exceptional circumstances and fixed conditions that included a curfew, reporting to police, not leaving Victoria, applying for travel documents or attending points of international departure and not to discuss the case with Mr Middleton.
Ms Metcalf said that such conditions would mitigate any risk.
Both accused were ordered to appear in January at a committal mention.
This article was first published on November 2, 2015 - 7:36PM
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