Troy Mercanti took the opportunity to wish his son a happy birthday and to tell his “fans that are in prison” to “keep punching” when he emerged from a Perth court today.
Mercanti appeared briefly in Perth Magistrate’s Court accused of breaching his post-sentence supervision order over allegations he had contact with bikie associates. Afterwards, wearing black Prada sunglasses, a black denim Las Vegas Raiders jacket and cap and black and white Saint jeans, Mercanti remained tight-lipped about his charges.
But he did deliver a message through the news cameras waiting for him outside.
“I would like to wish my son Fiore a happy birthday for next week and for all my fans that are in prison — keep punching,” he said.
Mercanti shares two sons with ex-wife Tammy Kingdon, with his repeated and brutal bashing of her landing him in jail. He was placed on the supervision order upon his release last January. One of the 10 conditions attached to Mercanti’s post-sentence supervision order bans him from having any direct or indirect contact with Ms Kingdon. But it is understood Mercanti is trying to forge a closer relationship with their sons, who are now understood to be young adults.
“He wants to be more involved in their lives and be part of their lives in time,” his lawyer Paul Holmes told.
It is not the first time Mercanti used the media interest in his case to speak to his sons.
“I just want to say hello to my two sons … pass them my love and they’re in my thoughts, that’s all I’ve got to say,” he said outside Fremantle court in March.
Mr Holmes had earlier today told the court he had not “formalised any negotiations with police (on the breach allegations) but we have entered into negotiations”.
The 52-year-old’s bail was renewed, but the conditions were changed so that he can report to Mirrabooka police station once a week instead of Warwick. The time-frame in which he could do that — up until 10pm at night — was also extended after Mr Holmes said his client had “obligations during the day”.
He was hit with his three latest charges in April, with police alleging he breached the order earlier this year in Victoria Park, Mindarie and Currambine. Police allege that on one occasion he met a group of 12 people at a restaurant for a birthday party and among those who attended was an alleged bikie associate at the Currambine bistro.
Before his latest arrest, Mercanti was already facing one count of breaching the order over allegations he met Mongols bikies at Bathers Beach House cafe in Fremantle in January. He has pleaded not guilty to that charge and is due to face trial in Fremantle Magistrate’s Court in September.
Make sure you have subscribed to our Facebook page or Twitter to stay tuned!
Source: The West Australian