Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Just a bit of news from the Vancouver Sun

Police show jurors seized Hells Angels memorabilia in East End chapter trial
Neal Hall, Vancouver Sun
Published: Tuesday, September 16, 2008

VANCOUVER -- A police witness at a major Hells Angels trial on Tuesday showed off a series of items seized from the police raid of the East End chapter's Hells Angels clubhouse three years ago.

One of the items was a Hells Angels vest that had been left on the back of a chair in the clubhouse dining room.

"This is the Hells Angels patch," explained RCMP Const. Dave Brown, who served as the exhibits coordinator during the police raid on July 15, 2005 during an investigation code named Project E-Pandora, which targeted the East End chapter.
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The officer explained the East End badge was sewn on the front of the black leather vest, with the "top rocker" reading Hells Angels, the "bottom rocker" reading British Columbia and the "winged death's head" in the middle that constitutes full membership in the motorcycle gang.

Brown also showed to the jury and B.C. Supreme Court Justice Selwyn Romilly other patches, including one that said "Hells Angels World" seized from inside a safe at the clubhouse.

Photographs on the walls were also seized, which were entered as exhibits at the trial, including one that appeared to show East End Hells Angels members wearing sunglasses, carrying swords and surrounded by flames.

On trial are alleged Hells Angels members Ronaldo Lising, John Punko, Randy Potts and Jean Violette, who are facing a total of 28 charges that include assault, extortion and illegal weapons counts.

The Crown alleges that some of the crimes were carried out for the Hells Angels as a criminal organization.

Brown testified tha members of the heavily-armed emergency response team assisted in the raid of the clubhouse, located at 3598 East Georgia.

The Crown has alleges the four men on trial were at the time members of the East End chapter.

The trial, set for nine months, is expected to hear from Michael Plante, who infiltrated the motorcycle club on behalf of police and was offered $1 million.

During opening statements this week, defence lawyers cautioned the jury to be wary of Plante's motives during his testimony.

The prosecution has alleged that the Hells Angels is the most powerful motorcycle gang in the world.

nhall@vancouversun.com


© Vancouver Sun

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