A former bikie club leader whose house was shot up and firebombed by four men was told he lost the top of his middle finger to a dog, and put barbed wire on his fence afterwards to stop them jumping over from next door, a court has heard.
Former Comanchero ACT president Peter Zdravkovic appeared as a witness in the trial of Axel Sidaros, 25, in the ACT Supreme Court on Friday. Mr Sidaros is accused of being one of the people to sneak onto Mr Zdravkovic’s property on June 28, 2018, shoot at him through a glass sliding door – resulting in the loss of the top of his finger – and set several cars alight including a BMW, a Mercedes-AMG and a black ute.
Mr Sidaros denies any involvement in the attack, and has pleaded not guilty to eight charges including attempted murder, arson, inflicting grievous bodily harm, and aggravated burglary. In the witness stand on Friday, Mr Zdravkovic said he didn’t know why the top of his finger was missing, and someone said a dog had bitten it off.
He couldn’t remember men shooting at him through a glass door at the back of his Calwell house, or telling his partner to “get down”. He couldn’t remember shooting back at them with a rifle, or using a hose to extinguish the flames engulfing his vehicles.
The attack was captured on dramatic CCTV footage previously shown to the court. Mr Zdravkovic said he couldn’t remember watching it, but after the incident, he put barbed wire on top of his fence to stop his neighbour’s dogs jumping over.
They liked jumping over the fence, he said. Mr Zdravkovic couldn’t remember telling police, “I know exactly what f—ing gun did that and what bullets they used”, or, “I know it’s all f—ed just because I left the club”.
He told the court: “I don’t talk to police”.
Prosecutor Trent Hickey suggested to Mr Zdravkovic he was having trouble remembering what happened because it was Comanchero bikie culture not to snitch or give information to police.
Mr Zdravkovic said he seriously could not remember it, and denied the incident was the result of a bikie club feud after he left the Comancheros.
“There was no feud at all that I know of,” he said.
The court previously heard there was a “hit” out on Mr Zdravkovic after he left the club. He sent photos to members burning his colours – described by Mr Hickey as “an extremely provocative act in outlaw motorcycle club culture”.
In the months leading up to the June 28 attack, he was shot at in his backyard and a bullet grazed his head. It’s also alleged pictures threatening him were posted on social media. One depicted a news reader and said he had 24 hours to hand over his Mercedes, bikes and colours, while others showed three large red bullets and bikie club members holding guns.
When questioned by Mr Sidaros’ defence barrister, Ian McLachlan, about his half-brother, Mr Zdravkovic said: “I can’t remember if he’s my half-brother or not”.
Mr Zdravkovic’s partner previously told the court his half-brother had been at the house for a social visit on the afternoon of June 28, 2018. Mr Sidaros’ remaining charges are attempted arson, discharging a firearm and endangering life, riding in a car without consent, and shooting into a building.
The trial continues.
Source: Canberra Times