SUNDAY OCTOBER 30 2016 NEWS 07

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cials about his criminal past. He served most of his 12-

year jail sentence in an Italianpsychiatric hospital.

After arriving in Australia,Justice Kearney said AntonioPerre went “virtually straightto this plantation”.

The court heard whenpolice raided the Hidden Val-ley drug camp, they found apistol stashed underneath An-tonio Perre’s bed although nocharges were ever laid in rela-tion to the weapon.

“Needless to say, our laws

are deficient in contem-plating how to deal withthe menace presented byorganised criminal activitydespite the setting up of (bod-ies) such as the National CrimeAuthority,” Justice Kearneysaid.

In sentencing nine of themen three months later, ChiefJustice Brian Frank Martinsaid he remained “somewhatsceptical” about the men’s col-lective “tale of woe” that ledthem to become involved inthe crime.

Corrections recordsshow Francesco Perre was re-leased from jail on February 21,1994. Nine days later, Detec-tive Sgt Bowen was dead.

On April 22, with his neph-ew Domenic in custody on sus-picion of the NCA bombing,Antonio Perre was releasedinto the custody of immi-gration officials and was flownhome to Calabria.

Mafia’s spreading ‘menace’

MAIN PICTURE: The scene of the 1994 National Crime Authority bombing in Adelaide RIGHT: DOMENIC PERRE Pictures: SUPPLIED / NT POLICE

22 August 1993: Twelve men arrested in early morning raid at Hidden Valley Station. More than 10,000 plants were being grown on 60 x 100m patch of land.11 September 1993: Eight men, including Antonio and Francesco Perre apply for bail in a special sitting of the NT Supreme Court13 September 1993: Justice Sir William Kearney refuses bail.2 December 1993: Eight men, including seven Calabrians, sentenced by NT Chief Justice Brian Frank Martin18 April 1994: Dean Ottens sentenced to seven years jail with a two year and six month non-parole period by NT Chief Justice Brian Frank Martin21 Feb. 1994: Francesco Perre released from jail.2 March 1994: Detective Sgt Geoffrey Bowen killed in NCA bombing.22 April 1994: Domenic Perre released from jail.

Calabrians in the Territory

Arrived in Australia aged 2. Owned a fruit block in Renmark, South Australia. Permanently disabled from a 1985 motorbike crash. Younger brother of NCA bombing suspect Domenic Perre. Jailed for one year, with a six month non-parole period for possessing a commercial quantity of cannabis. Released from jail on 21 February 1994

Francesco Perre

33 years old (in 1993)Born in Italy

“Labourer”, convicted of murder and jailed for 12 years in Italy, most of it spent in

a psychiatric hospital. Uncle of NCA bombing suspect Domenic Perre. Jailed for

18 months, with an eight month non-parole period for cultivating a commercial

quantity of cannabis. Released to immigration officials on 22 April 1994

Antonio Perre

57 years old (in 1993)

Born in Plati, Italy

Early 1993: Former SANFL ruckman Dean Ottens, owner of Hidden Valley station, makes arrangements in Adelaide to allow a major cannabis crop to be grown on his land.1 July 1993: Bruno Mussitano, Vincenzo Rocca and Robert Helps travel to Hidden Valley Station in Helps’ car.8 July 1993: Antonio Perre arrives in Australia from Calabria.14 August 1993: Antonio Perre and Domenic Vottari travel to Hidden Valley.21 August 1993: Domenic Romeo, Francesco Perre, Stavros Smyrneous and Antonio Spagnolo arrive at Hidden Valley with $7000 in cash for Ottens in a van hired by Romeo in Adelaide.21 August 1993: Francesco Perre and Domenic Romeo start driving back to Adelaide in van with 79.2kg of cannabis and are arrested 20 minutes down the road.

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