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AAP
National
Karen Sweeney

Mongols bikie shot in head in revenge attack, jury told

A Mongols bikie was shot in the head as part of a revenge attack, jurors have been told. (PR HANDOUT IMAGE PHOTO) (AAP)

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

Finks bikies Sione Hokafonu and Poiva Sita are standing trial for the attempted murder of Mongol bikie Rocco Curra, who was shot four times in the head and chest.

Hokafonu is accused of being one of two shooters who fired 11 or 12 times at Mr Curra, as he sat in a car in 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 been the getaway driver. Another man, Tavita Sua, is also accused of being one of the gunmen and his case is being heard separately.

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 park in front of Mr 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 Mr Curra had been shot, Hokafonu allegedly told an associate "blood for blood".

Mr 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," Mr Hutton said.

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

Jurors heard Mr 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 Mr 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.

Sita's brother, Joseph Opapo, is alleged to have been the driver of that car and has been charged with intentionally causing serious injury in circumstances of gross violence.

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

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