PATEA BACK BEHIND BARS AFTER GUN ARREST
NELSON Patea, brother of convicted double murderer Lionel Patea, is back behind bars after he was allegedly found in a car with a handgun and tens of thousands of dollars in cash.
He was arrested on November 29 in Brisbane after the car he was driving was intercepted and searched by police. It is alleged they found a Glock pistol and about $20,000 stashed in the back seat.
Patea, 27, (pictured) was with another man, Mitchell Toki, 36, who allegedly fled the scene before being arrested nearby.
Solicitor Campbell MacCallum confirmed Patea was back behind bars. Patea was released on parole in January 2020 after being sentenced to eight years in prison for the manslaughter of pool builder Greg Dufty. Lionel Patea pleaded guilty to the murder of Mr Dufty in the Hinterland in July 2015, months before killing his own partner Tara Brown.
THE brother of convicted double murderer Lionel Patea is back behind bars after he was allegedly found in a car with a loaded handgun and tens of thousands of dollars in cash.
Nelson Patea, 27, was arrested on November 29 in Brisbane city after the car he was driving was intercepted and searched by police.
Police allegedly found a loaded Glock pistol and about $20,000 stashed in the back seat.
Patea was with another man, Mitchell Toki, 36, who allegedly fled the scene before being arrested nearby.
Patea was released on parole in January 2020 after having been in custody since 2016.
“Police were conducting proactive patrols when they intercepted a Holden sedan around 9.20pm on Ann St, Fortitude Valley,” a Queensland Police Service spokesman said of the Brisbane arrest.
“After speaking with the two occupants, police subsequently searched the vehicle, where they allegedly located a quantity of cash, a drug utensil and a firearm, which was located in a bag on the rear seat.
“It is alleged one of the men attempted to run from the scene, however was taken into custody a short time later.”
Patea has been charged with possession of a category D/H/R weapon, possession of tainted property, and a drug offence.
His solicitor Campbell MacCallum confirmed Patea was back behind bars.
“I’m waiting for the brief of evidence and my client is confident none of his prints or DNA will come back as matching his on those particular items. Parole have ordered that he be returned to custody and we intend to defend the charges.”
It is unclear who the car belonged to.
Toki was charged with possession of a category D/H/R weapon, possession of tainted property and obstructing police.
Patea was sentenced to eight years in prison in 2018 for the manslaughter of pool builder Greg Dufty. He was part of a group that beat Mr Dufty to death in the Gold Coast Hinterland in July 2015.
Mr Dufty’s body has never been found.
After his parole release, Patea posted to social media a photo of himself smiling and wearing a white shirt while standing next to a car.
“Back on the streets,” he wrote.
Patea will appear in a Brisbane court on February 3.
Patea is the brother of former bikie enforcer Lionel Patea, who bludgeoned his partner Tara Brown to death with a fire hydrant cover in September 2015.
In 2017, Lionel Patea pleaded guilty to her murder. He also admitted to being part of a group that beat Mr Dufty to death. He is serving time in the Townsville Correctional Centre and is not eligible for release until 2048.