Defense Opens Case in Motorcycle-Club Brawl

Defense lawyers asked jurors to doubt the word of government informants and former Hells Angels who are expected to testify that the motorcycle club is a criminal ring that plotted a fatal casino brawl against a rival gang in 2002. Defense lawyers for 11 Hells Angels being tried on federal charges for a brawl that left three people dead said in opening statements that the Hells Angels defended themselves after being attacked by rival Mongols at the Harrah’s Laughlin hotel-casino. Two Hells Angels and one Mongols member died; at least a dozen people were injured.