Mongols bikie shot in head and chest was revenge attack, jury told

The shooting of a Mongols bikie in the head was a revenge attack by members of the rival Finks gang, jurors have been told.

Hokafonu is accused of being one of two shooters who fired 11 or 12 times at Curra, as he sat in a car on a suburban street.

He was allegedly trapped into believing he was meeting a woman he had met over Instagram that evening, August 1, 2019.

Sita is alleged to have driven the gunmen to and from the scene. His brother, Joseph Opapo, is alleged to have driven a second getaway car and has been charged with intentionally causing serious injury in circumstances of gross violence.

Lawyers for the three men deny their clients were involved, and say the case is based on the evidence of another man whose testimony should be scrutinised.

Peter Morrissey KC, for Hokafonu, said he would suggest that man, who cannot be identified, was actually one of the shooters himself.

Footage played to jurors showed a silver BMW parked in front of Curra’s car before two men jump out and fire a series of shots into the vehicle, which struck him four times.

It’s alleged the attack on Mr Curra was a revenge attack by the Finks Motorcycle Gang, prosecutor Neill Hutton told jurors in Victoria’s Supreme Court on Thursday.

He alleged it was in retribution for the shooting of Hokafonu in the foot days earlier.

That incident was apparently in retaliation for an earlier incident at a shopping centre pub when a Mongols associate had his “Support Your Local Mongols” jumper taken by members of the Finks as a “trophy” after a scuffle.

When asked later why Curra had been shot, Hokafonu allegedly told an associate “blood for blood”.

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Curra tried to drive away but crashed into a tree. He staggered into a property and residents called police.

“He’s very lucky to survive,” Hutton said.

Marieka Tirikos had been driving past and provided first aid to Curra, asking him questions to keep him conscious until emergency services arrived.

“I asked if he knew who had shot him and he said he didn’t,” she said.

At a meeting of the Finks the following day, the shooting of Curra was generally celebrated by members who believed he had been killed, Hutton alleged.

Jurors heard Curra had been lured to the Bulleen street under the belief he was meeting a woman who had reached out to him over Instagram.

It’s alleged Curra was set up only because he was a member of the Mongols.

After the shooting, the stolen silver BMW allegedly carrying Hokafonu and Sita was set on fire and they were driven away in a second BMW.

Hutton said a gun used in the shooting was found in Hokafonu’s possession five months later.

Another man, Tavita Sua, is also accused of being a second gunman and his case is being heard separately.