Christopher Hudson

Case record: Christopher Hudson

Background

Christopher Hudson was a member of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club and was described as a full member having defected from rival group The Finks in 2006.

In 2006, Hudson was involved in a brawl between both clubs at a kickboxing tournament on the Gold Coast, and he was shot in the chin.

Hudson also had a history of violence against women. In 2003, he beat his then partner and attacked a security guard who had tried to help her.

Before the killing of Brendan Keilar, Hudson had fired at police in Campbellfield after a night of heavy drinking with Collingwood footballer Alan Didak. On 28 June, Didak was interviewed by police about this incident. Didak said he was intoxicated at the time, was not in control of the situation, and was concerned for his safety.

Hudson spent the night of 17 June 2007 drinking at the Spearmint Rhino in King Street. He was described as being high from a drug binge and still high from drugs and affected by alcohol.

A report by consultant psychiatrist Danny Sullivan was tendered at Hudson’s plea hearing. Dr Sullivan found Hudson was of low intellect but had no psychiatric disorder, and Dr Sullivan said:

"Although anabolic steroid abuse and the lifestyle led by Mr Hudson suggests narcissistic and antisocial features, it is more likely that he was seduced by the lifestyle offered by joining motorcycle gangs, and that his peer group and lifestyle encouraged self-centred and aggressive attitudes."

A psychiatrist told the judge that bikie culture and drugs he abused were “a big part of his problem”.

Hudson was said to have taken anabolic steroids because he worried he was too thin, and he had also taken large amounts of amphetamines. Dr O'Sullivan said:

"He was, as a consequence, much more paranoid than usual,"

Hudson had worried about being “skinny” and had taken steroids for more than a month before the shootings.

The judge was also told that Hudson could not read or write well and was described as “not too bright”.

The offence

On 18 June 2007 in the Central Business District of Melbourne, Victoria, Hudson opened fire on two men and a woman during an argument at the corner of William Street and Flinders Lane at about 8:20 am.

Hudson first assaulted stripper Autumn Daly-Holt, a workmate of his girlfriend, 24-year old Kara Douglas, early in the morning of 18 June. Hudson then called Douglas, who arrived to pick him up around 7:30 am.

Hudson dragged Douglas out onto the street by her hair. At the corner of William Street and Flinders Lane, two male bystanders attempted to assist Douglas:

• Brendan Keilar, 43-year old solicitor
• Paul de Waard, 25-year old Dutch backpacker

Hudson pulled a gun and shot all three. Keilar was fatally wounded in the head. De Waard and Douglas were shot in the upper body. Douglas later had a kidney removed as a result of her injuries.

Hudson fled the scene as Keilar died in the street, dumping his weapon and jacket in a nearby construction site on Flinders Street between Queen and Bond Streets, where they were found by a construction worker about an hour later.

Reports led to the evacuation of the Rialto Towers amid reports that the gunman had fled into the tower, sparking a level-to-level search.

Hudson abandoned his car on Flinders Lane between Swanston and Elizabeth Streets. A black Honda CRV with New South Wales licence plates was one vehicle owned by the gunman. His other vehicle was a black Mercedes-Benz sedan, later found in Richmond.

The judge recounted actions during sentencing, stating:

"They did not even so much as touch you. You took out your handgun and shot both of them. You also shot Ms Douglas. They fell to the ground. You shot Mr Brendan Keilar once more while he was on the ground. You executed him. "You shot Mr Paul de Waard once more while he was on the ground.Your gun was then empty. You and others ought be grateful for that."

Investigation

Hudson fled the scene and went into hiding for two days. He then turned himself in to police on 20 June 2007 in Wallan, north of Melbourne.

Homicide squad detectives transferred Hudson to Melbourne where he was charged with murder and other offences in an out of court hearing.

There were also later allegations about torture of Hudson by members of the Hell’s Angels for bringing unwanted police attention to the group. A claimant alleged a club tattoo was burned from Hudson’s forearm with a blowtorch before he surrendered to police. The story arose after police raided the Angels’ clubhouse in Sydney and took possession of a Harley Davidson motorcycle apparently owned by Hudson.

This story was denied by Victoria Police. It was further discredited when Hudson’s stepmother sent a recent photograph, clearly showing the club tattoo, to the ABC program Media Watch.

Hudson surrendered with a heavily bandaged arm after two days on the run. An “insider” said the bandage “goes right up to the elbow ... it's a burns bandage,” quoting:

"Look at the bandage, it goes right up to the elbow ... it's a burns bandage,"

The insider said the ritual torture was punishment for bringing shame on the club and added:

"Some didn't like the problems he brought with him,"
"They thought, 'F--- him. He got into it himself.' And with all the trouble he caused us with The Finks, they thought: 'Why didn't he do this then'?"

The insider also said:

"They thought he should have done what he did to The Finks, not to innocent people,"

A belief by some Hells Angels members was that Hudson tried to commit suicide after the shootings and said they had seen what was left of the damaged tattoo. The insider stated:

"But some Hells Angels still believe Hudson tried to kill himself, saying they have seen what is left of the damaged tattoo."

The insider also said:

"A few blokes said they saw it and that it has a lot of scarring and it's a bit messed up because he tried to blade himself,"

The insider added:

"Chris wasn't that sort of bloke, though. Not a lot know what really happened."

Hudson’s stepmother provided a photograph showing the club tattoo.

Arrest

Hudson surrendered himself to Victorian Police at Wallan at 5 pm on 20 June 2007. He walked into the police station without incident.

Trial

Hudson was to appear in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court but was unable to make it due to an injury to his forearm that required surgery. The magistrate ordered that Hudson be remanded into custody.

The formal charges were:

• one charge of murder in relation to Brendan Keilar
• two charges of attempted murder in relation to Kara Douglas and Paul de Waard
• one charge of intentionally causing serious injury in relation to Autumn Daly-Holt
• one charge of unlawful imprisonment

Hudson was later also charged with nine offences in relation to the shooting incident involving Didak.

Sentencing

In May 2008, Hudson pleaded guilty to the murder of Brendan Keilar. In September, he was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 35 years before becoming eligible for parole.

At sentencing, Justice Paul Coghlan ordered Hudson to stand to hear his fate, stating: “life in prison, with a 35-year minimum.”

The report described a courtroom atmosphere with “Half-a-dozen Hells Angels” in the back row and that they stood to greet him when he entered the court. Hudson gave them “a smile and a thumbs up,” and one gave him “a fist-on-heart salute.”

Justice Coghlan found Hudson to be remorseful but discounted witness accounts that he had tried to commit suicide after the shootings, stating the gun was empty by that stage.

Justice Coghlan said that he gave a non-parole period only because Hudson pleaded guilty to the charges of murder and attempted murder.

Justice Coghlan also said:

"Most of the rest of Hudson's life will be spent in jail. His victims feel they have life sentences too. Ms Douglas lost a kidney. Ms Daly-Holt has been left with permanent nerve damage to her face. Mr de Waard can no longer enjoy the surfing, swimming and snowboarding he once loved."

Hudson was described as would be 65 when he is given his freedom.

Appeals

No appeal information was included beyond the guilty plea and sentencing.

Outcome

Hudson pleaded guilty and received a life sentence with a minimum term of 35 years before parole eligibility in September 2008 for the murder of Brendan Keilar.

Aftermath

Paul de Waard returned to the Netherlands to recover from his injuries. In October 2007, he revealed on a television interview that he was still undergoing extensive rehabilitation. He also made an appearance in the Dutch television show In de schaduw van het nieuws (In the shadow of the news) on 21 November 2009.

There were later reports describing Paul Kent (News.com.au) describing allegations of torture and the history of Hudson’s drug and alcohol use and the debate within the club about whether Hudson should be kicked out. An “insider” quoted described members arguing:

Reports also said police raids across Sydney netted a custom-built Harley-Davidson from the Angels’ Sydney clubhouse. Police would not confirm the identity of the bike's owner, but a bikie insider said it was Hudson’s. The bike was painted in two-tone camouflage grey with a distinctive Hells Angel Arizona insignia on its side and was wheeled on to the back of a police truck.

The reports said the bike’s loss was the “greatest insult” for “true outlaw bikers,” and the bike was being held for safekeeping for Hudson by members who argued he should not be kicked out.

Hudson’s stepmother sent a photograph clearly showing the club tattoo to the ABC program Media Watch, which was used to challenge the allegations about the tattoo being burned before Hudson surrendered.

Hudson’s victims’ injuries included: Douglas losing a kidney, Daly-Holt left with permanent nerve damage to her face, and de Waard being unable to enjoy the surfing, swimming and snowboarding he once loved.

Other details

Hudson assaulted Douglas’s workmate Autumn Daly-Holt at the Spearmint Rhino club in King Street. The report also described that Hudson forced Douglas at gunpoint to walk with him.

Hudson dragged Douglas away from a taxi by her hair when Keilar and de Waard attempted to help.

The judge was quoted as saying, in reference to the gun being empty: “You and others ought be grateful for that.”