The jury in the Bandidos biker massacre trial has pronounced six men guilty of first-degree murder for their roles in the grisly murders of eight men.

The jury began deliberations Wednesday morning after hearing from more than 70 witnesses over six months, into what is believed to be Ontario's largest mass slaying.

In the verdict read in a London, Ont. court this afternoon the jury found:

  • Michael Sandham, a former police officer, guilty on eight counts of first degree murder
  • Wayne Kellestine guilty on eight counts of first degree murder
  • Dwight Mushey guilty of eight counts of first degree murder
  • Marcelo Aravena guilty on seven counts of first degree murder, guilty on one count of manslaughter
  • Frank Mather guilty seven counts of first degree murder, one count of manslaughter,
  • Brett Gardner guilty of six counts first degree murder, two counts of manslaughter

Sentencing has been put over until Friday at 2 p.m. First degree murder carries an automatic life sentence with no chance of parole for 25 years.

The bodies of eight men, believed to be part of the Toronto chapter of the Bandidos gang, were found stuffed in the back of four vehicles in a farmer's field in southwestern Ontario on April 8, 2006 .

The scene was only a few kilometres from a farmhouse belonging to Kellestine, where the murders took place.

The Crown argued the murders were a result of tensions between the Toronto and the probationary Winnipeg chapter of the Bandidos biker gang.

Kellestine, who was a member of the Toronto chapter, had allied himself with the Winnipeg chapter.

Court heard he was ordered by his U.S. Bandidos bosses to strip the Toronto men of their club affiliation and start a new Canadian chapter. However, the plan went awry and ended up leading to the slaughter of the eight men.

Killed were: George Jessome, 52, George Kriarakis, 28, John Muscedere, 48, Luis Raposo, 41, Frank Salerno, 43, Paul Sinopoli, 30, Jamie Flanz, 37, and Michael Trotta, 31.

Police said the bodies of the men were shot at least 24 times and then crammed into four cars.

Many of Kellestine's co-defendants' lawyers argued that he was a "psychopath" and a "monster."

Kellestine's lead lawyer, Clay Powell, said outside court that his client was "fine."

As the judge thanked the jury for their service, Aravena launched into an obscenity-laden tirade against his lawyer and the jury. He also raised both middle fingers high and was removed from court.

Mather is "definitely" appealing, his lawyer, Greg Leslie, said. Mather was not a member of the Bandidos and had been staying at Kellestine's house at the time of the murders.

"Mr. Mather's very disappointed," Leslie said outside court. "He's almost in a state of shock."

The Crown put forward evidence saying that Mather supported the Bandidos and wanted to become a prospect. His lawyer said he was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The Crown's case centred on the testimony of MH, who was a member of the Winnipeg Bandidos, but turned informant. He was at the farmhouse the night of the murders.

Ontario Provincial Police Det.-Insp. Paul Beesley was in charge of the case and said justice was carried out for the family of the slain men.

"Biker gangs are inherently violent and I think that this trial has given us a glimpse into the lifestyle of motorcycle gangs," he said outside court. "It doesn't matter if you're a biker or what, killing is wrong and I think the jury recognized that today."