Nicholas Sianis will not give evidence for murder of Jason De Ieso in South Australia
Nicholas Sianis is one of the eight men accused of the 2012 shooting murder of Jason De Ieso. None of the accused will personally take the stand to give evidence, the Supreme Court murder trial has heard.
After the last of dozens of prosecution witnesses finished on Monday, September 4, and 20 sets of agreed facts were tendered, lawyers for each accused replied “no” when asked if their clients would mount defence cases.
The only exception was accused Husain Alzuain, who called an expert in biomedical and forensic photography.
Auxiliary Justice Brian Martin told the jury the accused men “were not obliged to give evidence” under the law.
“It is important that you do not draw any inference adverse to the accused because they have exercised their right not to give evidence,” Mr Martin said.
Mr De Ieso was gunned down at his Langford St, Pooraka, panel beating workshop on November 21, 2012, allegedly amid an escalating bikie war between rival gangs the Finks and Hells Angels.
The trial of eight men charged with Mr De Ieso’s murder began in the Supreme Court on May 10 with opening remarks from Jim Pearce KC, who told the jury there was a “cascading sequence of events between those two rival clubs that led to the death of Mr De Ieso”.
Since the opening address, the jury has sat in courtroom three of the Sir Samuel Way building, hearing from dozens of witnesses whose evidence spans more than 5000 pages of transcript.
They have also watched CCTV of the incident, which depicts a group of disguised men approaching the workshop and Mr De Ieso being shot as he attempts to take cover inside.
The eight accused standing trial are: Husain Alzuain, 35, of Goodwood, Mohamed Alzuain, 31, of Mile End, Musa Ali Alzuain, 30, of St Morris, Daniel Mark Jalleh, 34, of Clovelly Park, Ross William Montgomery, 38, of Andrews Farm, Seywan Moradi, 36, of Walkley Heights, Kyle Lloyd Pryde, 34, of Adelaide and Nicholas Sianis, 36, of Beverley.
Each of the men has pleaded not guilty to a charge of murder. A ninth man, who police alleged was also involved in the shooting, has since died.
Auxiliary Justice Martin said closing addresses by prosecution and each of the accused is expected to begin next week.
Source: Adelaide Now
