Judge reviews Kelowna Hells Angels track record

The Kelowna chapter of the Hells Angels was started in June 2007 by seven East End members, lead by Damiano Dipopolo. This expansion was financed, in part, by the Decotiss clan, Vancouver real estate developers. In its suit against the Hells Angels, the state identified 14 who have been members of the Kelowna chapter at some time, and said there are nine current members, including one member who's “in the box” – or suspended – due to drug addiction. At the time of the trial the chapter had two “hangarounds” and one prospect.

Full-patch Norman Cocks and Robert Thomas were convicted in 2014 of the killing of Dain Phillips. Phillips was beaten to death with a baseball bat and hammer on June 12, 2011. Cocks remains a member while Robert Thomas was expelled for other reasons. Bruce Skreptak was convicted of a 2010 aggravated assault in Kelowna, in addition to a number of firearms convictions stemming from a 2010 traffic stop.

David Giles and Bryan Oldham were caught up in an elaborate police sting. Giles was convicted of conspiracy to import and traffic cocaine and sentenced to 18 years in jail, where he died. Oldham was convicted of possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine and sentenced to four years.

“The 'sheer number of convictions' that have been entered into evidence conclusively prove that many members and associates of the East End, Kelowna and Nanaimo chapters of the Hells Angels have committed serious criminal offences,” Justice Davies wrote. “That 'sheer number of convictions' does not, however, prove that any of the offending was done at the direction of or for the benefit of any of those chapters or the Hells Angels as an organization." The judge noted the HA has a reputation for violence that is "at times used by members for the purposes of intimidation."