Perth bikie boss died from cocaine toxicity while in custody, inquest hears

2 weeks ago 5

The then-boss of the Rebels outlaw motorcycle club, Jamie Ginn, died from cocaine toxicity while being held at the Perth Watch House, a coronial inquest has heard.

A mandatory inquest into the 50-year-old’s sudden death on October 10, 2023 commenced on Wednesday.

Perth bikie boss death is being probed at three-day inquest.

During her opening address, counsel assisting the coroner, Sue Markham, said Ginn, at the time of his death, was the serving president of the Rebels and a bricklayer by trade.

“He was a physically fit person who attended the gym regularly. He was also known to use cocaine and steroids,” she said.

“In the months before his death, those who spent time with Mr Ginn noticed that his health had declined.

“He was reportedly stressed about club business and had increased his cocaine use. He had nose bleeds and swelling in his legs and feet. He also suffered from sleep apnoea but rarely used his CPAP machine.”

The day before Ginn’s death he used cocaine while at the Rendezvous Hotel in Scarborough. The following day he attended an industrial unit in Gnangara to meet with Gang Crime Squad officers.

Officers described Ginn as “pleasant to deal with” and “maybe a bit tired”, as he accompanied them on a search of the hotel room and unit, which revealed a shotgun wrapped in a towel in nearby bush.

Ginn was arrested and taken into custody for breaching a firearm prohibition order and told police he hadn’t been feeling good since going on a trip to Malta in July.

He was denied police bail which meant he would have to spend at least one night in custody before applying for bail before a magistrate the following morning.

When he arrived at the Perth Watch House he told the registered nurse on duty about blood clots in his feet, and that he was on blood thinners. The nurse conducted a “very brief” health assessment and concluded he was fit for custody, describing him as calm and courteous.

That night, there was no registered nurse on duty due to someone calling in sick, but Ginn’s cell was able to be monitored through full-length windows and cameras.

During a regular cell check at 6.53pm, Ginn was seen having a seizure on the cell floor. Officers carried out first aid, and commenced CPR at 7.07pm when it was noted Ginn stopped breathing.

Paramedics arrived at 7.13pm and Ginn was declared dead at 8.05pm.

A forensic pathologist later determined his cause of death to be cocaine toxicity, with high levels of cocaine found in his blood and stomach, as well as traces of steroids.

A toxicologist concluded Ginn likely ingested around a teaspoon of cocaine, enclosed in packaging prior to his arrest, and that the packaging breached shortly before his death, however there is no evidence of any packaging in Ginn’s stomach.

CCTV from Ginn’s cell did not show him taking drugs while in custody, only eating a meat pie around 6.22pm, and having some water during his brief, two-hour stay.

His seizure went for around 15 minutes unnoticed.

Ginn had only recently been appointed the boss of the Rebels bikie gang at the time of his death.

In the days afterwards, WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch confirmed Ginn had been arrested as part of a targeted police strategy to suppress bikie activity following a brazen daylight drive-by shooting in Baldivis.

Blanch said that he had watched the CCTV footage from Ginn’s cell and believed he had suffered a medical episode.

“I’ve watched the CCTV ... based on what I’ve seen, and the early indication, it’s highly likely to be a medical episode only ... I don’t think there’s any real blame to be put on anyone,” he said.

“Whilst we know he was a member of an outlaw motorcycle group, I still think it’s very important that we are sensitive to what’s occurred because he does have family and friends and they are grieving.”

The inquest is set down to run for three days and will consider the care Ginn received while in custody, and whether nursing coverage and monitoring was adequate.

Witnesses will include police officers, Perth Watch House staff and a forensic pathologist and toxicologist.

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