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The Canberra Times
The Canberra Times
National
Blake Foden

All six men charged over fatal Kokomo's brawl plead not guilty

All six men charged over a wild nightclub brawl that resulted in the death of a Canberra bikie boss have now pleaded not guilty.

Canberra Comanchero commander Pitasoni Ulavalu, who died on July 19 after being stabbed in the neck. Picture: Facebook

Comanchero chapter commander Pitasoni Ulavalu, 48, died in the early hours of July 19 after he was stabbed in the neck during a fight at Kokomo's in Civic.

Police later found a knife, described by officers as the suspected murder weapon, hidden in a stormwater drain in Turner.

The alleged killer, 26-year-old western Sydney man Frederick Elijah Mercy Tuifua, pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to a charge of murder.

Three other men - Matthew Kupu, Osaiasi Avanua Sydney Kupu and Maximilian Ellis Kurt Budack - also pleaded not guilty to affray that day.

The four were all arrested at a hospital emergency department on August 5, after Mr Budack was shot in what police believe to be a reprisal attack related to Mr Ulavalu's death.

The final two men charged over the Kokomo's brawl pleaded not guilty to affray when their cases returned to the ACT Magistrates Court on Thursday morning.

The duo, who are both Canberra men aged in their 20s, secured non-publication orders over their names earlier this month amid concerns that if their identities became public knowledge, their families could be targeted in reprisal attacks.

All six defendants have been remanded in custody, and are expected back in court on November 3.

Police continue to investigate the nightclub incident, and detectives anticipate further arrests and charges.

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