Slayings d-day in court
THE execution-style slayings of a prominent Gold Coast exbikie and his business partner are set to be dramatically played out in court this week.
Former Comanchero outlaw motorcycle gang member Shane Ross, 36, and his Monstr Clothing colleague Cameron Martin, 47, were gunned down after allegedly being lured to a clandestine meeting in a Tallebudgera park on the southern Gold Coast in October, 2019.
Mr Martin crashed his white Mercedes into a tree on nearby Tallebudgera Creek Rd after apparently trying to flee the scene with gunshot wounds, and was found dead in the vehicle.
Mr Ross was shot in the head, his body found by relatives three days later.
Three alleged Lone Wolf bikies – Garry James Brush, Nathan John Miller and Brodie Jeet Singh – face a 10-day committal hearing over the deaths starting in Southport Magistrates Court on Monday.
All three are charged with two counts of murder and one count of unlawful use of a motor vehicle. Police have alleged the murders were “undertaken and planned … over a period of time”.
Witnesses are expected to include Mr Ross’s widow, Alexandra, as well as Monstr Clothing employees.
At Mr Ross’s funeral in November 2019, it was revealed his life had been saved by renowned brain surgeon Dr Charlie Teo just over 12 months before he was killed.
The heavily-tattooed Glitter Strip identity was eulogised as a larger-than-life larrikin who loved a Corona, a party, a punt and pimped-up cars but was also a devoted family man who doted on his wife Alex and three young daughters.
Pastor Gary Swenson told the packed service at Southport’s Church of Christ that Mr Ross was a colourful character who “wasn’t afraid to colour outside the lines”.
“Shane is what we could call in Aussie vernacular, a larrikin,” he said.
“He lived life full-on. He loved a party, he loved a beer or 25, particularly a Corona.
“He was the life of the party, he was the last to go home.”
Mr Ross’s “out-there” personality was reflected by his love of Nike TN shoes and polar white veneers that were so bright “you needed sunglasses if you got too close”, Mr Swenson said.
But he said for all of Mr Ross’s flamboyance, “he was not a shallow person”, and was hardworking, entrepreneurial and dedicated to family and friends.
Mr Swenson revealed that Dr Teo had operated on Mr Ross in September 2018 to remove a brain tumour.
Alex Ross told the service her husband was her “soulmate and best friend” who was adored by everyone.
“Everything about you was ridiculous, from the shade of your teeth to how quickly you could drink a beer …” she said. “You were a dickhead, but you were the best kind of dickhead there was, and you were mine for what I hoped would be forever.”
The wake was held at the Pimpama Tavern where Mr Ross and Mr Martin had their last beers just two hours before they were killed.