Bike club case ‘like a witch trial’

WILLIAMSTOWN silk Trevor Monti says it could be eight weeks before members of the Tramps Motorcycle Club learn if they can have their guns back.

A hearing before the Victorian Firearms Appeal Committee ended on Friday, but the decision was reserved.

Police confiscated gun licences and weapons of nine current and former members of the Wangaratta-based club last August as part of Operation Cartridge.

Hundreds of firearms across the state were seized after Chief Commissioner Ken Lay declared people not “fit and proper” to hold firearms licences because of their association with outlaw motorcycle gangs.

Mr Monti, for the appellants, said the hearing had heard reckless allegations, and upholding the licence cancellations based on who the appellants associated with would set a dangerous precedent. ‘‘To have the reputations of good citizens tarnished in that manner does take us back to the Salem witch trials of 1692.’’

– with The Age