Anita Arvast - Bloody Justice: The Truth Behind the Bandido Massacre at Shedden

In 2008 I was looking for a new writing project.

I had grown tired of researching and writing in the academic arena, typically journal articles that are read by a miniscule percentage of the population but consume so much of a professor's time. The articles don't, in my opinion, have much of an impact on our society.

I had been reading about the Bandidos case and an acquaintance of mine suggested I might be interested in writing about it. I had never followed a trial before or been inside a jail. It could be an adventure.

I moved to London where the trial was being held, scoured over preliminary hearing transcripts, reviewed testimonies and forensic evidence, and travelled a couple of times a week to meet with one of the accused.

It was indeed an adventureone that would profoundly alter my understanding of justice.

There are many people who have contributed to this project.

I do not thank the one police officer who banished me from court for two weeks for providing literature and a thesaurus to Brett Gardiner through all of the proper channels. I also do not thank his supervisor for supporting this perspective that I proved to be some sort of a threat. I do thank Justice Heeney for having that settled and those police officers who smiled at me when I was permitted to return.

I thank my family for their support and for (mostly) not complaining about my considerable time away from home and behind my computer screen.

I thank the many lawyers who shared their time and expertise, and met my befuddlement with patience and humour. I congratulate my many bench mates who managed to sit through the trial with me on less-than-comfortable seating.

At various stages of this project, I have been supported by outstanding editors: Martha Sharpe, Don Loney, Brian Will, and Carol Harrison. The team at Wiley is just that: a team.

Finally, this book could not have been written without the many personal stories shared by Brett and his family.

Murdered

Jamie Goldberg Flanz, 37

George Pony Jessome, 52

George Crash Kriarakis, 28

John Boxer Muscedere, 48

Luis Chopper Raposo, 41

Frank Bammer Salerno, 43

Paul Big Pauly Sinopoli, 30

Michael Little Mikey Trotta, 31

Convicted

Includes ages at time of arrest

Marcelo Aravena (1 count manslaughter; 7 counts first degree), 30

Brett Bull Gardiner (2 counts manslaughter; 6 counts first degree), 21

Wayne Weiner Kellestine (8 counts first degree), 56

Frank Mather (1 count manslaughter; 7 counts first degree), 32

Dwight D Mushey (8 counts first degree), 36

Eric Niessen (1 count of obstruction of justicepleaded guilty), 45

Michael Taz Sandham (8 counts first degree), 36

Informant

MH

Crown Prosecution

Kevin Gowdey

Fraser Kelly

Judges

Mr. Justice Thomas HeeneySuperior Court (oversaw trial)

Mr. Justice Ross WebsterSuperior Court (oversaw preliminary inquiry)

Defence

For Marcelo Aravena

Tony Bryant

Kathryn Wells

For Brett Gardiner

Christopher Hicks

Bella Petrouchinova

For Wayne Kellestine

Clay Powel

Ken McMillan

For Frank Mather

Greg Leslie

Rob Lockhart

For Dwight Mushey

Michael Moon

Christian Angelini

For Michael Sandham

Gordon Cudmore

Don Crawford

Others

Merv Breaton, former bank robber and alleged trafficker

Marty Angenent, purveyor of the Holland House

Ron BurlingHells Angels member

Officer Tim DyackWinnipeg police officer with whom MH first works as an informant

Detective Constable Jeff Gatemanmember of the Ontario Provincial Police Biker Enforcement Unit and one of MH's handlers

Detective Sergeant Mark Loadermember of the Ontario Provincial Police Biker Enforcement Unit and one of MH's handlers

Constable Scott Rossiterpolice officer shot in head

David O'Neilsuspect in Rossiter's murder found in shallow grave behind Kellestine's farm

Russ Rusty and Mary Steeleowners of property where cars are found

PreacherPilgrims member who tried to convert bikers to Christianity

The names of Brett Gardiner's family have all been changed

The author obtained all material in this book from attendance through the criminal trial and review of transcripts. In addition, she met regularly with Brett Gardiner in the detention centre to hear about his life story. According to biker culture, one may never divulge any information about the motorcycle club or any of its activities. Brett remained true to that code and only ever divulged information about his life before the events at Shedden. All content in this book is based heavily on the trial and testimony.

Some names have been altered to protect family members and children.