Rebels bikie Joshua John Lucey is CLEARED of plotting a daylight shopping centre ambush

Rebels bikie is CLEARED of plotting a daylight shopping centre ambush on an outlaw rival after rocking up to court hand-in-hand with his associates and girlfriend toting a $3,590 bag

  • Alleged Logan chapter president Joshua John Lucey faced court on Monday 
  • Lucey was accused of plotting an ambush at a shopping centre in February 2019 
  • Bandidos member Harley Cranston was shot during the altercation in Logan  
  • Lucey was cleared of the charge- fellow member Lucas Pain to face a retrial


A high-ranking Rebels bikie has been cleared 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.

Lucey was supported in court by his girlfriend and several other associates on Monday to hear the verdict. 

Arriving at court, the bikie boss could be seen greeting associates as he clutched his girlfriend’s hand as she walked by his side toting a $3590 Burberry designer bag.

Joshua John Lucey (centre) arrives at the District Court in Brisbane on Monday  with his girlfriend

Lucey was accused of plotting a daylight ambush on a rival at the Logan Hyperdome in February 2019. He is pictured outside court on Monday

Lucey was accused of plotting a daylight ambush on a rival at the Logan Hyperdome in February 2019. He is pictured outside court on Monday 

A jury found Lucey not guilty 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.

Lucey was found not guilty of unlawful striking using a projectile with intent to disable. He is on Monday arriving at court

Lucey was found not guilty of unlawful striking using a projectile with intent to disable. He is on Monday arriving at court

Joshua John Lucey stands with several associates, his girlfriend, and legal team outside court on Monday

Joshua John Lucey stands with several associates, his girlfriend, and legal team outside court on Monday

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.