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Melbourne gangland killings

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Melbourne's Gangland killings refer to at least 23 underworld figures that were killed in Melbourne, in a series of tit-for-tat killings between various groups between January 16 1998 and and April 1 2004. The killings culmunated in the arrest of Carl Williams and the murder of his associate 'Benji' Veniamin.

Leadup to Events

Template:Fn) [1]

Groups and Factions Involved

The following groups of people were connected to the murders. Template:Fn) [2]

The Honoured Society An Italian group that has long been linked with Melbournes fruit and vegetable markets since the 1940's. Frank Benvenuto, Domenico Italiano are reported to have been associated with this group.

The Painters and Dockers / Moran Family A very loose assocation of criminals, the remnant of the Painters and Dockers Union that controlled Melbournes docklands and the drug trade associated with it from the 1950s until the early 90's. Graham Kinniburgh, Victor Peirce, Lewis Moran, Mark Moran and Jason Moran have all been associated with 'the dockers'.

The Carlton Crew Previously led by Alphonse Gangitano. Dominic "Mick" Gatto, Mario Condello, and the brothers Vincenzo Mannella and Gerardo Manella are also associated with this group.

The Williams Family Sometimes reffered by the media as 'Steptoe and Son', George Williams and his son Carl Williams were both involved in the manufacture of amphetamines and distribution of other 'party drugs'. They were previously associated with the 'Carlton Crew' and the Moran family. Victor Brincat, Thomas Hentschell, Alfonso Traglia, Paul Kallipolitis, Dino Dibra and Rocco Arico were all associates of the Williams Family. Andrew 'Benji' Veniamen was believed to have defected to the group from the 'Carlton Crew' in early 2003. [3]

Nik Radev Gang Led by Nik "The Russian" Radev, a convicted drug dealer and career criminal. Mark Mallia, Housam Zayat, Istvan Gulyas, Michael Marshall and Willie Thompson were known associates.

Timeline of Events

1998

The Melbourne gangland killings are believed to have begun with the murder of 40-year-old Alphonse Gangitano on January 16. He was shot dead in the laundry of his home, while only in his underwear. Gangitano was in the middle of a preliminary hearing along with Jason Moran relating relating to their involvement in a nightclub brawl in the Sports Bar in 1995

A coroner's report into his death directly implicated Jason Moran and Graham Kinniburgh. They were both found to be in Gangitano's home in Templestowe when the murder took place, however, it could not be established who pulled the trigger. Kinniburgh's blood was found on a banister inside the house and his skin was found on a dent on the front security door. Both were excused from giving evidence to the Coronor on the grounds they might incriminate themselves. [4]

On August 3, John Furlan, a 48 year old motor mechanic from Coburg was killed by a car bomb in his Subaru Liberty outside his home. Domenico "Mick" Italiano was treated as a suspect as he had recently been involved in a payment dispute with John Furlan, however no one has been arrested in connection with his death. [5]

42 year old stand-over man Charles Hegyaljie, known as "Mad Charlie", was killed at his Caulfield home on November 23. He was an aquaintence of Chopper Read and had been associated with the amphetamine industry. Dino Dibra was linked to the killing which was believed to be drug or debt related. [6]

1999

Vince Mannella,[7] a former associate of Victor Peirce and Alphonse Gangitano , was ambushed and killed outside his home on the evening of January 9. His death was possibly debt-related or part of an underworld power struggle[8] but no suspects have ever been named.

Joseph Quadara, 57, was ambushed by two people and killed on in the early hours of May 28, as he arrived at a Safeway supermarket. A former millionaire, but he was declared bankrupt in 1994. It is believed that his killing was a case of mistaken idenity, as there is another Giuseppe "Joe" Quadara involved in melbourne fruit and vegetable industry with underworld connections. [9]

Brighton businessman Dimitrios Belias, 38, was killed with a single shot to the back of the head on September 9, in an underground carpark on St Kilda road. He was believed to be heavily in debt.[10]

On October 13, Carl Williams was shot in the stomach and survived. Williams told Police he blacked out and could not identify the shooter. Both Mark Moran and Jason Moran were present during the incident and Police believe the dispute related to a failed amphetamines batch and ownership of drug manufacturing equipment. A woman told police she heard a man cry "No, Jason!" moments before a shot was fired. [11]

On October 20, Vince Mannella's brother, 31 year old Gerardo Mannella, was ambushed and killed outside his brothers home, after attempting to flee from two men. [12]

On November 25, George and Carl Williams were charged with multiple drug offences after police raided an alleged amphetamine factory in Broadmeadows. Police seized around 25,000 amphetamine tablets, a pill press, a loaded pistol and 6.95kg of powders containing methylamphetamine, ketamine and pseudoephedrine with a street value up to A$20 million. [13] These charges were never brought to trial because of corruption allegations against former drug squad detectives involved in the raid. [14]

2000

Francesco Benvenuto, also known as "Frank Benvenuto", was 52 years old when was shot in the chest whilst at the wheel of his car on May 8. Phone records show that as Benvenuto lay dying he managed to ring ex-employee and associate Victor Peirce on his mobile phone. [15] Police initially treated him as a suspect but later offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. [16]

Richard Mladenich, a 37-year-old career criminal, was killed with a single bullet in a St Kilda motel on May 16. He had recently been released from jail where he once shared a cell with Chopper Read. Police later named Rocco Arico as a suspect but were unable to interview him whilst he was in prison. They also believe that the shooting was a case of mistaken identity [17]

On June 15, Mark Moran was killed with two bullets as he was stepping into his car outside his luxury home in Aberfeldie. Mark's murder was at first suspected to have been committed by Dino Dibra orAndrew Veniamin, or in retribution for the death of Frank Benvenuto.

35 year-old Dino Dibra was killed on October 14, after leaving his house in West Sunshine. At the time he was facing charges relating to kidnap and assault. At a police press conference, Detective Inspector Andrew Allen said "We are confident that this gunman is a hired hitman and that he, along with another person, ambushed Mr Dibra that night about 9.15pm and shot him a number of times ... this is not the only murder (the gunman) has committed" [18]. This police profile strongly suggested that "Benji" Veniamin was one of the gunmen. A A$100 000 reward was offered by police for information.

2002

Victor Peirce, 42, was killed on May 1, while in a car parked in front of a Port Melbourne supermarket. A blue Holden Commodore pulled up beside Pierce, and Pierce exchanged words with the occupants inside the car, before being shot four times at close range. Victor was officially employed as a waterfront worker, however Police belived he was the leader of various drug syndicates in Melbourne and heavily involved with drug trafficing. The death of Peirce heavily impacted the Melbourne underworld. [19] Andrew Veniamin was suspected in being part of the murder but no carges have ever been laid.

On October 16, the body of drug dealer Paul Kallipolitis was found in his West Sunshine home. Police believe he had be murdered a day earlier and publically suspected that his one-time-friend Andrew Veniamin was the killer. [20]

2003

Nik Radev, known as "The Russian" (in spite of being Bulgarian), was killed in Queen St Coburg on April 15. The known drug dealer and standover man was shot seven times in the chest. Andrew Veniamin met Redev on the day of the murder and was once again suspected, along with Carl Williams [21]. Damien Cossu and Alfonso Traglia, were also with Radev at the time but claimed they could not identify the gunman, and subsequently were named by police as 'persons of interest' [22]

On June 21, 36 year old Jason Moran, and his minder, 40 year old Pasquale Barbaro were shot dead by a man in a balaclava as they sat in a parked blue van outside an Essendon Auskick football clinic. Five children were witness to the murder including Moran's six-year-old twin boy and girl. The gunman ran away across the football oval and over a Moonee Ponds Creek footbridge to a waiting vehicle. [23]

In June, Taskforce Purana was set up by Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Simon Overland to investigate Melbourne's underworld.

Small time drug dealer Willie Thompson, 39, was killed on July 21, while sitting in his car after leaving a suburban gym in Chadstone. Police say the gunman strolled up to the car and shot Thompson dead before escaping with a second person in a stolen Ford sedan. Some bullets were lodged in nearby shops. Thompson's official occupation was a lollipop vendor inside nightclubs, and a police report said he had developed an enmity with Nik Radev. [24]

The charred body of Mark Mallia, 30, was found in a stormwater drain in Sunshine West on August 18. He was an associate of Nik Radev

Housam Zayat, 32, was found in a paddock in Tarneit with multiple bullet wounds to the head on September 11. Zayat was also a close associate of Nik Radev. Nicholas Ibrahim was charged with his murder in 2004, which was described in court as over a disputed share in a nightclub. [25]

Michael Marshall was killed with 5 shots to the head outside his South Yarra home in front of his girlfriend and his five year old son on October 25. He was the owner of a hot dog stand, and a also suspected drug dealer. Marshall was a 'friend' of Willie Thompson and also Nik Radev. Victor Brincat and Thomas Hentschel were arrested and charged for the murder within hours of the shooting by Operation Purana. Police revealed that Hentschel's car had been bugged and that the killing had been caught on surveillance tape. Both men were associates of Carl Williams [26]

On November 17 Carl Williams was arrested and charged with making threats to kill a Purana Taskforce detective and the investigator's wife. The alleged threats were made in a taped phone conversation to Victor Brincat in Barwon Prison. Carl was bailed two weeks later. The arrest was captured on film by The Age photographer Angela Wylie.

62-year-old Graham Kinniburgh, known as "The Munster", as ambushed and shot dead outside his home in Kew just after midnight on December 13. Police said he had been killed in front of family members soon after parking his car. Kinniburgh was carrying a gun and managed to return one shot before being killed. He was considered Melbourne's most influential criminal at the time of his death. Andrew Veniamin was treated as a suspect in his murder, and Carl Williams was also questioned. [27]

2004

In Feburary Carl Williams went on the record to news-magazine The Bulletin with a denial that he had paid "Benji" Veniamin A$100 000 for five of the murders. [28]

In March, Federal Justice Minister Chris Ellison announced the Australian Crime Commission would be investigating the murders. The ACC is a federal law enforcement body, whose role is somewhat similar to America's Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On the March 23, Andrew Veniamin was shot and killed in the Carlton pizza restaurant "La Porcella" after being called to a meeting with Dominic Gatto. Gatto was charged with his murder, Police alledgeing that Domminic had step a trap for Veniamin. Veniamin was an associate (possibly a bodyguard or hitman) of Carl Williams and was suspected in seven underworld murders.

The 23rd victim was Lewis Moran, father of Jason and stepfather of Mark Moran. Lewis was shot dead on April 1st, just nine days after the death of 'Benji' Veniamin. Lewis was having a drink in a bar at the time. The shooting also injured his associate, Herb Wrout.

Arrests and Aftermath

2004

On June 9 2004 Purana Taskforce detectives arrested Carl Williams for conspiracy to murder. He was arrested only metres from the home of Mario Condello. Victoria Police said the raids had "absolutely" saved Mario Condello from becoming the 28th gangland victim. [29] Carl Williams was later charged along with Victor Brincat and Thomas Hentschel and for the murder of Michael Marshall.

Just over one week later Mario Condello and Dominic Gatto's solicitor, George Defteros, were arrested for conspiracy to murder George Williams and Carl Williams. [30]

In September 17 Alfonso Traglia, Victor Brincat and Carl Williams were charged with the murders of Jason Moran and Pasquale Barbaro. [31]

2005

In May Carl Williams was charged with the murder of Mark Moran, after a former employee agreed to testify that he was Carl's driver on the day of the incident. [32]

In June, Dominic Gatto was found not guilty of the murder of Andrew Veniamin. During the trial claimed he had acted in self defence after Veniamin pulled out a .38 and threatened to kill him. Gatto claims that during a struggle he was able to turn the gun around on Veniamin and fire one shot into his neck, and one shot in the eye. He also claimed that during the argument Veniamin had implicated himself in the deaths of Dino Dibra, Paul Kallipolitis and Graham Kinniburgh. [33] [34]

Police corruption

The Victorian police force, and Operation Purana in particular, have faced accusations of police corruptions. Investigations have also been hampered by a "code of silence", with few organised crime figures willing to risk their lives to provide details to state and federal authorities. Victoria's state police have also been accused, possibly unfairly, of taking the attitude that eventually the crime figures will wipe themselves out.

References

  1. ^ The cast of characters Adam Shand, The Bulletin Feburary 14, 2004
  2. ^ Police tried to 'disrupt' Veniamin, Ian Munro The Age May 21, 2005
  3. ^ Burial ground Adam Shand, The Bulletin March 31, 2004
  4. ^ Gangitano suspects won't testify, Toby Hemming, The Age, January 16 2002
  5. ^ Melbourne's underworld hits The Age, June 22 2003
  6. ^ Murder charge No.4 for Williams John Silvester, The Age January 26, 2005
  7. ^ Williams case for Supreme Court Jewel Topsfield, The Age May 20, 2004
  8. ^ Alleged $20m drug trafficker goes free on bail, Olivia Hill-Douglas The Age July 18, 2002
  9. ^ Of love and murder, John Silvester, The Age November 2, 2002
  10. ^ Standover man's killer remains a mystery, Steve Butcher, The Age May 1, 2003
  11. ^ $100,000 reward to snare underworld hitman Jamie Berry, The Age, December 31, 2004
  12. ^ Gangland war claims 22nd victim Reuters, Mar 24, 2004
  13. ^ Six named in underworld investigations Steve Butcher, The Age December 23, 2003
  14. ^ New lead in Bulgarian Nik's killing John Silvester The Age December 13, 2003
  15. ^ Wise guys, tough guys, dead guys John Silvester, The Age December 14, 2003
  16. ^ Crime Scene John Silvester, The Age December 13, 2003
  17. ^ Shooting heightens fears of underworld war John Silvester, Padraic Murphy, Robert Upe, The Age July 23, 2003
  18. ^ Soured deal led to killing, court told Steve Butcher, The Age March 8, 2005
  19. ^ Mobsters Inc: How Melbourne became No.1 with a bullet Adam Shand, The Bulletin Magazine Feburary 14, 2004
  20. ^ Williams ordered killings, court told Stephen Moynihan, The Age March 2, 2005
  21. ^ 'Ganglands: The Force Strikes Back' Adam Shand, Sunday June 13, 2004
  22. ^ More arrests made in Melbourne gangland probe Zoe Daniel, 7:30 Report Transcript, June 17, 2004
  23. ^ Gatto walks free from court Mick Bunworth, 7:30 Report Transcript, June 15, 2005
  24. ^ Lawyers, guns and Gatto Mark Russell, The Age June 19, 2005

Notes

Template:Fnb The names listed here are limited to those people who are deceased or have been charged with a murder, have identified themselves as a member of a particular group, or have been publicly identifed by Police and multiple news reports.

Sources

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