Rebels bikie associate Joshua Duperouzel charged over murder of Joseph Versace

A rebel biker has been charged with the murder of a gangland ‘enforcer’ who has been described as having a ‘heart of gold’ – despite his dark past in the underworld.

Joshua Colin Duperouzel, 25, will face charges in Perth court after he was arrested last week for the attack on Joseph Versace at his workshop in Gnangara.

The shooting is another blow to the family after it was devastated two years ago when Versace’s father Mario died in October 2020.

Duperouzel was arrested in Belmont on Monday — just two hours after his face and name were aired in local media when he approached a random woman and asked for a sandwich.

Joshua Duperouzel, 25, was arrested Monday in Belmont

The woman called the police while he ate her food.

Dozens of heavily armed police officers then descended into the parking lot and arrested the rebel operative – who has since been charged with murder.

“I heard someone yell ‘go down’ and then I looked over the balcony and they had him on the floor on his stomach with his hands behind his back,” a witness said. The West.

Police declined to confirm whether Duperouzel and Versace were known to each other, but Major Crime Division Inspector Quentin Flatman said the “event is somewhat linked to a small group of people.”

He also described that the 25-year-old charged with murder was on the “periphery” when asked about ties to criminal motorcycle gangs.

Police are investigating the movements of a black BMW X5 found in Glen Forrest shortly after Versace was murdered

However, Duperouzel’s social media accounts state that he wears Rebels merchandise and poses with other notable members including Joshua Benjamina and John Finch.

Finch has also been questioned in connection with the murder. Police are also investigating the movements of a black BMW X5 that was found abandoned in Glen Forrest shortly after Versace’s death.

det. insp. Flatman said the luxury four-wheel drive was “immediately identified” as being linked to the murder.

Versace’s sister Connie tearfully told reporters that he was the family rock and was devastated to lose another family member.

“After my father passed away, my brother told me he would escort me down the aisle to get married, now that’s not going to happen,” Ms. Versace told 7News.

Mrs. Versace said her brother had a heart of gold and begged anyone with information about his killer’s whereabouts to come forward.

Ms Versace denied allegations that her brother had links to a motorcycle club, despite police saying there were links between criminal motorcycle gangs and the shooting.

“He definitely wasn’t a biker or what’s been said,” she said.

“It’s not all the truth and that’s why I’m doing this because I want people to know that he was a great person.”

Ms Versace admitted that her brother may have been cycling friends, as “a lot of people do now.”

“He’s not a gangster, he wasn’t an angel, but who is, he’s done crazy things,” she said.

Ms Versace said she was upset that her brother was being linked to an outlaw biker gang and portrayed as a “terrible person.”

She described her brother as the “rock” that held the family together when their father died.