Edward Winterhalder, who was with the Bandidos for seven years and part of motorcycle clubs for 30 years, said bikie gangs were full of "loose cannons

Edward Winterhalder, who was with the Bandidos for seven years and part of motorcycle clubs for 30 years, said bikie gangs were full of "loose cannons".
He said the person who killed Geelong Bandidos' member Ross Brand did not need authority from anyone to carry out the execution."If there is meth-amphetamine in the mix there is no telling what's happening next," he said."The only thing for sure is there will be more and more law enforcement and that's not good for any club long-term."At some point in time clubs will need to police themselves because it's inevitable the police and government will do it for them."They have to remove the loose cannons and drug dealers and remove crime from ranks of the motorcycle clubs, and that's worldwide."Mr Winterhalder left the bikie gang culture in 2003 to spend more time with his daughter, who is now aged 16, and concentrate on his construction company.The 51-year-old was the man who assimilated Canadian motorcycle club Rock Machine and turned it into the Bandidos after a bloody war with rival gang from Montreal the Hells Angels.Mr Winterhalder said Brand's murder at the Bandidos' Breakwater clubhouse on Wednesday could have been a scare tactic from a rival gang member who was more than likely drug-affected."It is disorganised crime, it's not like the mafia, whoever shot him (Brand) didn't have to have permission," he said. "It will be an individual making a decision on their own terms."You can't get in these guys' minds; most are whacked out on amphetamines." Mr Winterhalder said some joined bikie gangs to pursue their own criminal agendas and once inside conspired to build factions within the club."It's not a requirement to commit crimes (to be a Bandido) and a majority don't. The only thing they are guilty of is having too much fun at the weekend," he said.Mr Winterhalder said there was tension between members of the same motorcycle gang.He said when he was the head of the Bandidos' Oklahoma chapter kicking people out was not always possible."We tried to get rid of people but they are protected by other people and then it becomes difficult," he said.Mr Winterhalder said bikie gangs were usually tight knit and Brand's death would have a major impact in their club but pleaded for no revenge attacks."If they don't stop as a whole it's inevitable they will become extinct. The world is tired of bikies fighting with each other," he said.

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