Brothers Assassinate Bikie Gang Member

Crime: Murder and manslaughter
Occurred:  23 October 2008
Sentenced:  23 March 2011
Where: Bandidos' Clubhouse, Leather Street, Geelong
Convicted: John Bedson (murder) and Derek Bedson (manslaughter)
Victim:  Ross Brand

What happened?
On Geelong Cup Day (22 October), a fight broke out between a nominee of the Bandidos Motorcycle Club and a member of the Death Before Dishonour club (a youth group allied with the Rebels).  John Bedson and his half brother, Derek Bedson, wanted to avenge the Death Before Dishonour member who had been assaulted.  They drove out to the Bandidos' Geelong club house with a .22 semiautomatic rifle.  Ross Brand and several associates came outside to see what was going on.  John Bedson fired six times, one bullet hitting Ross Brand in the forehead and another striking his associate near the right butt cheek, exiting through his left thigh.  Ross suffered horrendous brain injuries and died in hospital in the early hours of the next morning.

Ross Brand

Victim's background
Ross was 51 when he died. As a fully fledged Bandidos member, he was a targeted enemy of the Rebels, who suspected him of firebombing their clubhouse in the past.  A year earlier they had ambushed his home but he wasn't there.  Before he was shot he reached down toward his trousers.  John claimed he was reaching for a gun or a knife which he was known to carry around, whereas the Crown claimed that Ross was merely about to tuck in his shirt or do up his fly.  Police have stated there were reliable reports that Ross had access to guns and grenades.  He left behind his wife of 14 years and a 12 year old son. Among the flowers at the scene of his death was a note that read: "Dad, I really don't know what to write, I wish I didn't have to write anything, but here we are … we're all going to miss you so fucking much."

John Bedson as sketched in court.

John Bedson's background
John was 24 at the time of the killing.  He is the half brother of Derek.  During school he suffered from learning disabilities and left school after failing Year 10.  He began using ice, LSD and cannabis.  When he was 18 he formed the group Death Before Dishonour with some friends, and went on to become a full member of the Rebels. He has 17 prior convictions for incidents including kicking cars and brandishing a knife (both incidents occurred while intoxicated). He was living with his girlfriend and her nine year old son until the killing.  Under their influence he had stopped drinking.  He and his girlfriend were going to get married in December 2008, but he has been in remand since the killing.


Derek Bedson's background
Derek was 21 at the time of the killing.  He completed Year 12 VCAL at Belmont High School and afterwards traveled from Geelong to Melbourne to complete a carpentry apprenticeship.  He began using cannabis from the age of 12 and engaged in amphetamine use from the age of 18. He has had previous convictions for possessing a handgun without a license and drug possession.  Derek was not a member of any of the bikie gangs involved.

Outcome of trial: John offered to plead guilty to manslaughter but the prosecution pursued a murder indictment instead.  A jury trial was required and they found him guilty.  Derek pleaded guilty to manslaughter and no trial was needed.  The men were also convicted for causing injury to the man who was shot in the butt.

Sentence:

John: 18 years imprisonment before eligible for parole (23 years max), with over two years of the sentence already served in remand.
Derek: Eight years before eligible for parole (12 years max), with approximately a year and a half of the sentence already served in remand.

You can read the judgement here.  Media coverage is available here and here.

Several bikies attended the sentencing decision.