Taxpayers could foot the hefty legal bills of several former bikies due to a prosecution bungle in the Gold Coast brawl case.
Four former Bandidos involved in the 2013 punch-up have applied for an order requiring the Queensland government pay their legal costs, after their riot charges were either downgraded or dropped.
The Brisbane Magistrates Court heard that George Bejat, Zivko Stojakovic, Benjamin Thornton and Senad Catic didn't throw any punches, but did, except for Stojakovic, hurl obscenities at outnumbered police.
They offered to plead guilty to the lesser charge of public nuisance as early as March 2014, but the police officer in charge twice refused to enter negotiations, according to defence barrister Saul Holt QC.
"He said... his hands were tied, that he was not allowed to discontinue or substitute any further charges in relation to the prosecution of persons for the alleged riot at Broadbeach," Mr Holt said.
But the Crown backflipped after ex-bikie Peter Mauric was found not guilty of riot earlier this year.
Bejat, Thornton and Catic pleaded guilty to public nuisance on Thursday, while Stojakovic was discharged completely.
Mr Holt said the men had incurred "substantial expense" since making their initial offer.
He did not submit a figure, but it's believed a costs order would be in the tens of thousands of dollars.
Prosecutor Jeff Hunter QC asked Magistrate Michael Quinn to consider the "spectacle" of Bejat, Thornton and Catic winning costs after their participation in the "outrageous" behaviour.
Magistrate Quinn deferred his decision until August 14, when he is also due to pass sentence on Bejat, Thornton, Catic and up to 17 others involved in the melee.
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