- Gang claims to have raised over a million dollars already by other means
- Trial is set to be one of the longest and most expensive in SA’s history
- More than two dozen lawyers and barristers are representing the accused
An outlaw bikie gang is using an online begging bowl to help pay the legal fees of their ‘brothers’ who are charged with the murder of a bystander.
The Hells Angels’ North Crew in Adelaide set up a GoFundMe page looking for money for members of their gang who are ‘facing some serious legal problems’.
The GoFundMe ‘North Crew family support’ page is overseen by a man closely linked to the gang.
But is has failed to find much support from the broader, non-bikie community. So far it has raised $1,475 of its $300,000 target, though it claims to have raised $1,000,000 already by other means. 
CCTV showing suspects in the murder of Jason De Ieso at his panel beating business in 2012
Seven alleged North Crew members and one associate are on trial in the South Australia Supreme Court charged with the murder of panel beater Jason De Ieso, who was shot in the head in 2012.
Other Hells Angels are facing trial in lower courts on unrelated charges.
Another two members are being investigated by Victorian police over the death of Adelaide man and bikie associate Kerry Giakoumis in Melbourne in June 2020.
Six of the eight on trial over the murder of Mr De Ieso are getting legal aid that is expected to cost taxpayers more than $4 million.
But two are paying their own way in a case that it is estimated will cost them at least a million dollars each.
‘As some of you are aware our brothers are facing some serious legal problems,’ the fundraiser read.
‘We are asking for as much support and donations as we can get for our brothers, any little bit helps.
‘We have raised over $1 million for the boys so far which includes them all selling everything they have and remortgaging theirs and their families homes.’
The cash plea says they need to raise another $300,000 ‘to help the boys families with lawyers’.
‘While we are still working away at any fundraising idea we can think of, we ask our brothers and friends to please help our brothers fight for their freedoms,’ it read.
The trial of those accused of murdering Mr De Ieso will be one of the longest and most expensive in South Australia’s history.
More than two dozen lawyers and barristers are representing the accused, including several QCs.
A detective who specialises in combating bikie gangs across Australia said the move exposes the truth about them.
Murder victim Jason De Ieso (pictured) was an innocent bystander who was shot in the head in 2012
‘They talk about supporting one another through everything and yet they can only raise this small amount of money by begging for public donations,’ the detective told the Adelaide Advertiser.
‘This is the Hells Angels we are talking about, the largest and most feared OMCG in the world. Where are their brothers if they have to beg for money from the public to pay their legal fees?’
Mr De Ieso was shot in the head in 2012 when the eight men allegedly stormed a business looking for a rival bikie from the Finks during a turf war feud.
He was not connected to either gang and was an innocent bystander.
The men were arrested and charged in August 2019 following an 18-month investigation.
The trial is expected to start in April.
