Friday, October 30, 2009

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Friday, October 30, 2009

Football playoffs off and running SPORTS

GUILTY 44 4 n THE BANDIDOS VERDICTS

counts of counts of first-degree manslaughter murder The final chapter in one of the worst bloodbaths in Ontario history ends with first-degree murder convictions against six Bandidos bikers, more than three years after an eight-man massacre

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DEREK RUTTAN [email protected]

Clay Powell, lawyer for Wayne Kellestine, speaks to reporters at the London courthouse yesterday after his client was convicted on eight counts of first-degree murder.

INSIDE: PAGES A10, 11

LFPRESS.COM/BANDIDOS

The killers: Profiles, what each was convicted of

The slain: Who they were, how they died

Tidbits: Things the jurors never knew

The body trail: Who was found where

BY JANE SIMS The London Free Press

murder. The remaining four were manslaughter decisions. The verdicts, after a sevenmonth jury trial, signalled the jury heeded the Crown’s argument that all six men knew the deadly intentions on April 8, 2006 and took part either by following a plan or forcibly confining the men before their executions. The men all face life senten-

ces with no chance of parole for 25 years for first-degree murder. They’re to be sentenced today. The case centred on the conflicts and tensions between the Toronto group that doubled as Bandidos Canada, known as the No Surrender Crew, and the fledgling Winnipeg probationary chapter it sponsored that wanted full status in the biker gang. There also was conflict with the

American world headquarters based in Texas that had ordered the Canadian Bandido operations be shut down because of communications problems and lack of dues payments. The breakdown in the biker brotherhood led to an ambush at Kellestine’s farm where the men were to be kicked out of the club. They paid for the breakdown with their lives.

They’re murderers — all six of them. After only 14 hours of deliberations, all six men charged with killing eight Toronto-area Bandidos bikers were found guilty yesterday. Forty-four of the 48 possible verdicts were first-degree

ONLINE

INSIDE

London Knights twittered tonight from 7:30 p.m. on lfpress.com/ sports

HORROR RULES

INSIDE

Scare yourself silly with a horde of big and little screen flicks. C1-3

School of Life. . . . . . . . . . C12 Bridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C12 Business. . . . . . . . . . . . D8-10

Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . B6-10 Canada/World. . . . . B1-4, 10 Comics/Crossword . C12, 13

n AFTER THE VERDICT: Video from the courthouse n SINCE APRIL 2006: Our coverage from Day 1 Their bodies were found stuffed into vehicles abandoned along the quiet Stafford Line in Elgin County, near Shedden. The 14th-floor courtroom of the London courthouse was hushed as the jury gave its verdicts. Some of the men in the prisoner’s box appeared anxious. Wayne Kellestine, 60, the local biker with the long reputation, looked over where family mem-

bers of the victims sat. Marcelo Aravena chewed his fingers as he leaned over the prisoners’ the box. Michael Sandham, 40, the biker president of the Winnipeg Bandido chapter, heard his convictions first. On all eight counts, he was found guilty of first-degree murder. see GUILTY | Page A10

LFPRESS.COM GHOSTLY TALE Some swear the Grand is haunted by former owner. A7

Deaths/Births . . . . . . . . B4, 5 Comment . . . . . . . . . . . . . A12 Horoscope . . . . . . . . . . . . .C12

WE ASKED YOU . . .

In your view, are this season’s Toronto Maple Leafs the saddest team ever in NHL history? YES 67% NO 33% Total votes cast: 764

Lottery Check . . . . . . . . . . A2 Sudoku . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .C12 Autonet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . E1-10

WEATHER

Today’s question: Are you/your kids going out trick-or-treating tomorrow night? YES NO

Showers; High 16˚ Low 5˚ Page D9

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