Fink member shot dope grower in groin during botched raid

[kiwi_farmer]

JORDANNA SCHRIEVER, COURT REPORTER

April 29, 2009 12:47pm

http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0...42-2682,00.html

Copyright 2009 News Limited

 

 

A TRIO'S "unsophisticated and clumsy" plan to steal a $100,000 cannabis crop resulted in a bikie shooting a man in the groin, the Supreme Court has heard.

 

Senior Finks member Anthony Mavropoulos, 32, and brothers Vince Votino, 28 and Enrico Votino, 31, were found guilty of aggravated serious criminal trespass and causing harm to a person during the December 2007 incident.

 

They appeared today for sentencing, during which Justice Tim Anderson told the men their crime was "a serious matter made more serious by the fact a gun was carried by Mr Mavropoulos".

 

The court heard the men went to the victim's Prospect home at about 1.30am, marched him down the hallway with a gun pressed to his body and had planned to tie him up before stealing the hydroponic crop.

 

"It is gathered from some of the articles found in your possession that you went to the premises that night with a view of harvesting the cannabis," Justice Anderson said.

 

Their plan was foiled when the victim, who cannot be identified, stabbed Mavropoulos numerous times with two kitchen knives.

 

The court had previously heard Mavropoulos, a senior member of the Finks, then shot at the victim's groin "as an instinctive response".

 

Justice Anderson rejected an argument by Vince Votino's lawyer, David Edwardson, QC, that "growing cannabis for commercial gain" was "hardly consistent with the sort of residential address and the type of penalties one might expect where you have an innocent occupant".

 

He said their sentences must reflect the "seriousness of how parliament regards home invasion", but would take into consideration the trio's good prospects for rehabilitation.

 

Justice Anderson ordered Mavropoulos serve 12 years in jail with a non-parole period of seven years.

 

Brothers Vince and Enrico Votino were each given eight-year jail terms with four and a half year non-parole periods.