DRUGS LINK IN MOTHER'S DAY PARTY MURDER

A DRUG-related payback was believed behind an execution-style killing at a
Mother's Day function in a crowded inner-city club on Sunday night.

Police are investigating a possible connection to a power struggle between
criminal elements within the Brisbane Vietnamese communities, sources said.

A group of about seven men aged in their late teens to early 20s were
believed to have ambushed a 23-year-old man in the toilets of West End's
Cypriot Club around 9.30pm.

A number of shots were fired from a small calibre handgun, at least one
hitting the victim in the chest.

A sound operator working at the club, known as "Tim", said the man was held
against a toilet door and a gun pushed to his chest and fired.

Police would not confirm whether the killing was related to drug gangs,
saying they were investigating several avenues.

Asian Task Force detectives arrived at the crowded club within minutes of
the shooting.

It is understood they were acting on previous information that some people
were going to "settle a score" with a Vietnamese person at West End.

Police spokesman Brian Swift would not comment on the information.

However, he said detectives were arriving at the 200-strong function as
part of the proactive liaison role with the Vietnamese community virtually
as the incident happened.

He said police had not found the murder weapon and were still interviewing
the people at the function.

"Seven witnesses of Vietnamese descent are voluntarily helping police but
we have no firm suspect at this stage," Mr Swift said.

The name of the victim, who died on his way to the Mater Hospital, had not
been released last night.

Mr Swift would not confirm whether he was known to police.

"Tim" told ABC radio it was an execution-style killing in the club's toilets.

"Around 9.30, a whole bunch of guys jumped up, ran into the toilets and it
was sort of like an execution-style hit," he said.

The Mother's Day dinner and dance featured international ethnic Vietnamese
performers from the United States and interstate.

Guests were being served their meals when the shooting occurred but patrons
outside the club said music was so loud most did not hear the shots.

Management of the recently refurbished Cypriot Club, known as Marty's on
Vulture, were quick to distance themselves and the Cypriot community from
the killing.

"I want to dissociate the incident with our club, and our community, and
the community that visits our club," club manager Louis Tombas said.

Risk Management consultant Mark Craig said criminal elements of the Asian
community were quick to resort to violence and the shooting could become a
"feature of the Australian landscape".

Mr Craig, who is completing a doctorate on Asian crime at the University of
Queensland, said the nature of the shooting was consistent with way
criminals involved with drugs operate.

"The bottom line is these elements are not afraid of retribution of a
judicial system they do not respect it, they are not afraid of it if they
get caught, they get caught," he said.