A high-ranking Rebels bikie is free after challenging accusations of plotting a daylight shopping centre "ambush" as an outlaw rival was shot in the leg.
Alleged Logan chapter president Joshua John Lucey and fellow member Lucas James Pain fought charges over the shooting in the Brisbane District Court.
A jury found Lucey not guilty on Monday after more than eight hours of deliberation, but was unable to reach a verdict for co-accused Pain.
The events unfolded in broad daylight at the Logan Hyperdome, a major shopping centre south of Brisbane, in February 2019.
Lucey was accused of organising the ambush after a chance encounter with Bandidos member Harley Cranston, crown prosecutor Greg Cummings told the court on the opening day of the trial.
He said several Rebels members arrived at the shopping centre later that day and, according to the prosecution case: "Mr Cranston was always going to get shot."
"This was an ambush organised by Mr Lucey, linked to whatever the disagreement was about earlier that day," he said.
It was Pain that ultimately fired the gun after a pursuit involving up to 11 men, Mr Cummings said.
Pain and Lucey were both charged with unlawful striking using a projectile with intent to disable.
However, the jury was unable to reach a majority verdict for Pain.
As the chase spilled onto the street, the Bandidos member armed himself with a machete, the court was told.
"Mr Cranston, about 30 seconds before he was struck with the bullet, had armed himself with a machete and ran back towards these people that were chasing him," Mr Cummings said.
If he fired the shot in defence of himself or others, then it was not unlawful, the defence argued.
The prosecution had to also prove Pain's act of shooting Cranston wasn't an accident that occurred when he was trying to scare him, Judge Tony Moynihan said in his summing up on Friday.
Only one bullet was fired from the revolver capable of carrying six rounds, and a case against Lucey would only be considered if Pain acted unlawfully, the jury was told.
Much of the evidence relied on various CCTV footage from in and around the shopping centre.
While Lucey has been cleared of the charge, Pain will face a retrial.
Australian Associated Press
