Melbourne gangland killings explained

The Melbourne gangland killings were the murders of 36 underworld figures in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, between January 1998 and August 2010. The murders were retributive killings involving underworld groups. The deaths caused a power vacuum within Melbourne's criminal community, and rival factions fought for control and influence. Many of the murders remain unsolved, although detectives from the Purana Taskforce believe that Carl Williams was responsible for at least ten of them.[1] The period culminated in the arrest of Williams, who pleaded guilty on 28 February 2007 to three of the murders.[2]

Since the confession of Williams, the ultimate source of the violence has become public knowledge. On his 29th birthday, while meeting with Jason Moran and his half brother Mark Moran on 13 October 1999 at a suburban park in Gladstone Park, Jason Moran shot Carl Williams in the stomach over a dispute about money relating to their amphetamine trade. Through the period after his run-in with the Moran family, Williams commenced a war with the aim of killing all members of the ‘Carlton Crew’.[3]

The murder of former lawyer Mario Condello on 6 February 2006 caused speculation of a possible resurgence in the killings, although this was denied by police.[4]

On 19 April 2010, Carl Williams was murdered by fellow inmate Matthew Johnson while incarcerated at Barwon Prison.[5] [6] Williams would have been 71 before becoming eligible for parole.

Background

The majority of underworld crime figures and major incidents can be traced back to the Painters and Dockers Union that existed on Melbourne's waterfront after the Second World War. The Union had a Mafia-like structure, and most criminal activity was centred around control of the Union, and the cut associated with the drugs (primarily heroin and cocaine) that passed through the port. The Melbourne Markets was used as a distribution point for the illegal drugs, because of its close proximity to the docks.

By 1990 the local manufacture of amphetamines had increased to the point where the police described Melbourne as the "amphetamine capital of Australia".[7] As well as drug dealing, criminals received income through protection rackets in King Street nightclubs, as well as in prostitution, illegal gambling, and armed robbery.

The genesis of the underworld conflict can be traced to the 1996 arrest of John Higgs, then Australia's number one trafficker of amphetamines. Higgs was a well-connected criminal with a wide network of contacts both in the underworld and among corrupt police, and it took several years in one of the country's most expensive criminal investigations to finally convicted him of drug trafficking charges. The case was controversial and included a major cache of drugs linked to Higgs and his syndicate mysteriously vanishing in the storage depots of Melbourne's drug squad, almost certainly thanks to corrupt police involvement. The downfall of Higgs and his closest associates meant younger criminals became keen to enter the drug trade and fill the vacuum left by Higgs' arrest. This included underworld figures such as Jason Moran and Carl Williams who would become key figures in the Melbourne gangland killings.

The catalyst that ignited the conflict was the 1998 murders of Melbourne gangsters Alphonse Gangitano, shot dead in his own home on 16 January 1998, and Charles Hegyalji known as "Mad Charlie", murdered in front of his house on 23 November of that same year. Both Gangitano and Hegyalji had been major figures in the Melbourne underworld, and Gangitano in particular had been a close ally of Higgs. Following these two deaths many of Gangitano and Hegyalji's former associates suddenly rose to positions of importance in the underworld, and it was several of these figures, such as Vince Mannella and Dimitrios Belias, who became the next victims in Melbourne's underworld war as the fight for power escalated. The conflict was further exacerbated by the 1999 shooting of Carl Williams, who was shot in the stomach by the Moran brothers, Jason and Mark, over a drug-related debt. Williams, who survived the shooting, vowed to exterminate the Moran family and in doing so became the most infamous criminal involved in the killings, as he arranged the murders of most of the Moran family and several of their allies in the Carlton Crew.

Groups and factions

The following groups of people were connected to the murders. A number of those named below were members of more than one group at the same time.

The Honoured Society
  • A Calabrian 'Ndrangheta group that has long been linked with control of Melbourne's fruit and vegetable markets.
    The Painters and Dockers / Moran family
  • A loose association of Irish waterfront workers and ex-members of the Painters and Dockers Union. Brian, Les & Ray Kane, Graham Kinniburgh, Victor Peirce, and Lewis, Mark, and Jason Moran were all associated with 'the Dockers'. The Moran family operated jointly with the mostly Italian Carlton Crew.
    The Carlton Crew
  • An independent ’Ndrangheta group created by Alphonse Gangitano. Domenic "Mick" Gatto[8] and Mario Condello were also members. Gatto succeeded Gangitano as leader of the organization after the latter's death in 1998.
    Radev Gang
  • Led by Nikolai "The Russian" Radev, a convicted drug dealer and career criminal who was shot in Queen Street, Coburg in 2003. No killer has been formally identified, although several possibles have been named.
    The Sunshine Crew
  • Led by Paul "PK" Kallipolitis. Dino Dibra, Andrew "Benji" Veniamin, Rocco Arico, Mark Mallia, Bluey Watkins, Johnny Auciello, Mark Morrison, Michael Dewhirst, Terrence Chimmiri and Jason Kontek were also known associates. All had been friends since childhood. Veniamin took over the group after Kallipolitis was murdered; Veniamin was himself assassinated in 2004.
    The Williams Family
  • Led by Carl Williams, and his father, George Williams. Antonios Mokbel, Andrew Veniamin, and Dino Dibra were known associates.

    Investigation

    The Purana Task Force was established by Victoria Chief Commissioner of Police Christine Nixon in 2003 to investigate the Melbourne gangland killings and major drug syndicates.[9] [10] The taskforce enjoyed success in investigating and halting the killings, despite initially being pushed for staff.[11] [12] In 2008, following the halt in killings, the purview of the task force was expanded.

    Investigations were initially hampered by a "code of silence", with few organised crime figures willing to risk their lives to provide details to state and federal authorities but they were able to cultivate informers and protected witnesses from within the criminal community although Victoria's state police have lamented the death of gang figures who were killed before they were able to aid their investigation. The use of one of those informers, barrister Nicola Gobbo, led to multiple court cases including the High Court of Australia decision AB v CD, a Royal Commission and placing hundreds of convictions in doubt.[9] [13]

    During the existence of the Purana taskforce it was led by a number of different officers including:

    In the first three years of the Purana taskforce

    These efforts helped taskforce Purana which was praised for their efforts to stop the killings.[15]

    Detective Inspector Andrew Gustke was head of the taskforce in 2016 and stated that if groups like Purana were successful then there would be a reduction in the level of general crime. At the same time it was announced that they would begin investigating firearms trafficking which had caused an increase in shootings in Melbourne. Gustke also wanted international taskforces to be set up to stop drug trafficking before it reaches Australia.[9]

    In 2019 it was revealed that, in 2006, Purana detectives hid from the court the fact that they paid money into the prison account of a crown witness. The Court of Appeal ruled this to be a miscarriage of justice and quashed the conviction.[16]

    The Purana taskforce was closed after a 2021 review found that the taskforce had achieved what it was set up to do, but a change was required to enable detectives to respond more quickly to changing threats, with a spokesperson saying that whilst "highly successful during this time, the criminal landscape has changed significantly since its inception, which is why we have recommended the operation closes". Whilst the taskforce was in operation it was responsible for the laying of charges in 15 murders with 11 convictions, as well as intervening to prevent six murders. It also seized $70 million in assets information and assisted the Australian Tax Office in issuing around 1000 tax demand notices which recouped more than $15 million.[9]

    Timeline of events

    1995

    1996

    1997

    1998

    1999

    2000–2002

    2003

    2004

    2006

    2009

    2010

    Arrests and sentencing

    Carl Williams was later charged along with Victor Brincat and Thomas Hentschel. He pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges relating to his arrest in 2001 and in October 2004 was given a seven-year jail sentence, which he was serving in the maximum security Acacia unit of Barwon Prison at the time of his death.

    17 September 2004, Alfonso Traglia, Victor Brincat and Carl Williams were charged with the murders of Jason Moran and Pasquale Barbaro.[55] In May 2005 Carl Williams was additionally 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, and drove him to a location near Mark's house at the time of the murder. Zarah Garde-Wilson, the widow of Lewis Caine, is defending all of the men in their court cases.

    In May 2005, Keith Faure, brother Noel Faure, 50, and Evangelos Goussis, 37, all of Geelong were charged with the murder of Lewis Moran and the attempted murder of Bert Wrout. Security footage from Moran's murder showed that one of the gunmen had a tattoo identical to one of the accused.[56] Previously Keith and Evangelos been charged with the murder of Lewis Caine. Faure and associate, Evangelos Goussis became the first convicted of murder related to the gangland killings on 3 November 2005.

    Known underworld figure Nicholas Ibrahim and Abraham Mokdessi was charged with the murder of Housam Zayat. During the trial in June 2005 an eyewitness to the shooting refused at the last minute to testify against Ibrahim, and was charged with contempt of court.[57]

    In June 2005, Mick Gatto was found not guilty of the murder of Andrew Veniamin. During the trial, he claimed he had acted in self-defence after Veniamin pulled out a .38 calibre handgun 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.[58]

    On 3 November 2005, Keith Faure and Evangelos Goussis became the first convicted with murder related to the Melbourne gangland killings. Both have appealed their conviction.[59]

    On 14 July 2006, Damien Cossu was arrested at gunpoint while driving in Sydney. He was charged with the murder of Mark Mallia whose tortured body was stuffed in a wheelie bin, dumped in a stormwater drain and set alight. Cossu was also present at the murder of Nik Radev.[60] [61]

    On 28 February 2007, Carl Williams pleaded guilty to murdering Jason Moran in June 2003 and his father Lewis Moran in March 2004. He also pleaded guilty to a third murder, but the name of that victim was suppressed until recently when it was announced that it was Mark Mallia.

    On 6 June 2007, it was announced that Tony Mokbel had been arrested in a café in Athens.[53] At the time of his arrest, his appearance had changed significantly from when he went missing. Wearing a brown stuff wig and having grown a beard, Mokbel was found carrying a fake Australian passport and driver's licence in the name of Stephen Papas.[62] Mokbel was finally extradited back to Melbourne (and Barwon Prison) on 17 May 2008, from Athens via a heavily guarded, private charter plane. His flight path included refuelling in the Maldives and Port Hedland, before landing at Tullamarine. He was then flown in a police helicopter to Barwon Prison. He appeared via video link to the Melbourne Magistrates Court on 20 May 2008.[63]

    On the same night Mokbel was arrested, police carried out a raid on an underworld gang calling themselves 'The Company'. Fourteen other underworld figures were arrested in Melbourne. Drugs, weapons and $790,000 in cash were seized.[64]

    Purana Taskforce detectives arrested Angelo Mario Venditti for the murder of Paul Kallipoitis on 29 July 2008.[65]

    On 9 March 2011, Judy Moran, the mother of slain sons, Mark and Jason Moran and also the ex-de facto partner of Lewis Moran (who was murdered in 2004) was found guilty of the murder of her brother-in-law Desmond "Tuppence" Moran. Moran claimed that she was visiting her son, Mark's grave at Fawkner cemetery at the time as the date of the murder was also the ninth anniversary of Mark's death. But the real motive for the crime was on ongoing dispute between Judy and Des over the money remaining after the murders of three family members. Judy Moran drove the shooter, Geoffery Armour and also accomplice Michael Farrugia to and from the Ascot Vale deli where Des was eventually shot and killed. It was then revealed that Armour pleaded guilty to the murder of Des Moran with Farrugia pleading guilty to manslaughter months earlier before becoming the prosecution's star witness in the case against Judy Moran in which the jury took seven days to deliberate before finally finding Moran guilty of murder. She will be eligible for parole in 2032 at the age of 88.[66]

    2019 Royal Commission

    See main article: Royal Commission into the Management of Police Informants.

    In December 2018, it was revealed that one of the defence lawyers involved in the prosecutions had become a police informant, prompting a royal commission.[67] The defence lawyer was known by the pseudonym Lawyer X or Informer 3838.[68] On 1 March 2019, the Court of Appeal revealed that former defence barrister Nicola Gobbo was Lawyer X.[69] The Royal Commission into the Management of Police Informants will examine the extent to which cases may have been affected by the conduct of Gobbo, who was registered as an informant with Victoria Police from 1 January 1995 to 13 January 2009.[70]

    In popular culture

    A drama series detailing the gangland war and the efforts made by the Purana taskforce to contain it, Underbelly, premiered on the Australia local television Nine Network on 13 February 2008. Ongoing legal proceedings in Victoria made Justice Betty King prohibit the Nine Network from airing the show in Victoria and from providing access to the show via their website. An edited version commenced screening in Victoria on 14 September 2008. In 2011, the ban was lifted, and the series aired in an unedited version in Victoria.

    The drama series Fat Tony & Co., which detailed the crimes of and specifically the manhunt to catch Tony Mokbel, made regular references to the gangland killings. It aired on the Nine Network from 23 February to 6 April 2014.

    In 2020, the mini-series Informer 3838 dramatised how Nicola Gobbo was a police informant through the latter stages of her career as a criminal defence barrister. It focuses on Gobbo informing on her high-profile client Carl Williams.

    See also

    References

    Notes:

    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 identified by Police and multiple news reports. During this period various factions formed alliances with each other, as well as fought amongst themselves. Some characters mentioned in this article have not been associated with any groups.

    Sources

    External links

    Notes and References

    1. News: Carl Williams – the baby-faced killer . 10 March 2019 . ABC News . 20 April 2010.
    2. Carl Williams: Secret Deals and Bargained Justice – The Underworld of Victoria's Plea Bargaining System . Flynn . A . (2007) 19(1) Current Issues in Criminal Justice 120.
    3. 'The untold, bloody story of Melbourne's underworld war', John Silvester, p.2, Thursday 1 March 2007
    4. http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Condello-dies-in-Vic-gangland-slaying/2006/02/07/1139074174322.html Underworld figure shot dead in Melbourne
    5. http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/carl-williams-dies-in-prison-report-20100419-soab.html Carl Williams dies in prison: report
    6. News: Hunt. Elissa. Carl William's killer Matthew Johnson jailed for at least 32 years. 19 June 2013. Herald-Sun. 8 December 2011.
    7. http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/03/17/1047749718635.html Cops, robbers, drugs and money
    8. News: The big fist of a criminal. Silvester. John. 11 June 2004. The Age. 19 April 2010.
    9. Web site: Silvester . John . 2021-04-13 . Purana taskforce to close under major crime-fighting shake-up . 2022-04-16 . The Age . en.
    10. Web site: 2003-10-18 . Things are hotting up for the cop at the top . 2022-03-29 . The Age . en.
    11. News: 2003-09-03 . Vic police review gangland task force . en-AU . ABC News . 2022-03-29.
    12. Web site: 2003-12-14 . Claims Vic police stretched thin . 2022-03-29 . The Age . en.
    13. News: 2004-04-01 . Tapes show chase before underworld murder . en-AU . ABC News . 2022-04-16.
    14. Web site: Grand . Chip Le . 2020-09-02 . With cops in the gun, royal commission holds fire . 2022-04-17 . The Age . en.
    15. News: 2004-06-09 . Gangland arrests 'saved a life' . en-AU . ABC News . 2022-03-29.
    16. News: 2020-12-01 . Two years and $100 million later, there's still a lot we don't know about the Lawyer X scandal . en-AU . ABC News . 2022-08-07.
    17. News: Inquest findings show murder victim was a shady dealer . Herald Sun . 23 September 2011.
    18. Gangitano suspects won't testify, Toby Hemming, The Age, 16 January 2002
    19. News: Fresh leads on car-bomb cold case in which businessman John Furlan died in Coburg . Herald Sun . 25 August 2013.
    20. Web site: Vince Mannella . https://web.archive.org/web/20020825104052/http://www.melbournecrime.bizhosting.com/vmannella.htm . 25 August 2002 . 9 February 2016 . dead .
    21. http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/06/21/1056119527975.html Melbourne's underworld hits
    22. DPP v Catania . 22 May 2006 . auto. .
    23. Web site: The Joseph Quadara's . https://web.archive.org/web/20060911182308/http://www.melbournecrime.bizhosting.com/jquadara.htm . 11 September 2006 . 9 February 2016 . dead .
    24. Web site: Anderson . Paul . Cold Case Files: Vicki Jacobs shot dead as she slept, new clues may reveal who killed her . Herald Sun . 18 November 2022 . December 7, 2014.
    25. Web site: $1.3 million stolen to pay murdered man's debts . 23 December 2011 . 30 September 2020 .
    26. News: Friend of murdered man Dimitrios Belias also believed to have been killed . Herald Sun . 12 March 2014 . 30 September 2020 .
    27. http://www.theage.com.au/news/Crime--Corruption/Murder-charge-No4-for-Williams/2005/01/25/1106415596027.html Murder charge No.4 for Williams
    28. http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/05/19/1084917653970.html Williams case for Supreme Court
    29. http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/07/17/1026898865315.html Alleged $20m drug trafficker goes free on bail
    30. News: Gangland figure Mick Gatto threatened to kill police Informer 3838, court told . ABC News . 9 February 2019 . 30 September 2020 .
    31. News: Cold Case file remains open on the suspected Mafia slaying of Vincenzo and Alfonso Muratore . Herald Sun . 25 March 2013 . 30 September 2020 . Moor . Keith .
    32. Web site: Melbourne's five most notorious underworld executions . 15 March 2016 . 30 September 2020 .
    33. Web site: Italian Crime Connections . https://web.archive.org/web/20061209071313/http://www.melbournecrime.bizhosting.com/itallianconctns.htm#Frank%20Benvenuto . 9 December 2006 . 15 October 2005 . dead .
    34. News: When killers are victims too . J . Silvester . . 24 April 2004.
    35. Web site: Silvester . John . 2016-03-09 . The bloke who chases the crooks: inside the anti-ganglands Purana taskforce . 2022-04-16 . The Age . en.
    36. http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/12/30/1072546532869.html $100,000 reward to snare underworld hitman
    37. Web site: George Germanos knew he was in the gun, but who pulled the trigger? . 21 April 2016 . 30 September 2020 .
    38. Web site: Pasquale 'Percy' Lanciana arrested over 1994 Richmond 'road gang' robbery . 19 November 2016 . 30 September 2020 .
    39. News: Gangland figure wipes away tears as court grants freedom due to Lawyer X. ABC News. 26 July 2019.
    40. http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,24094907-29277,00.html Man arrested over gangland shooting
    41. http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/12/12/1071125658986.html New lead in Bulgarian Nik's killing
    42. http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/12/22/1071941669860.html Six named in underworld investigations
    43. http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/12/12/1071125658667.html Crime Scene
    44. http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/07/22/1058853070484.html Shooting heightens fears of underworld war
    45. Wealthy dating couple executed, Mark Buttler and Paul Anderson, The Herald Sun 21 October 2003
    46. Web site: A violent vendetta turns full circle. Silvester. Andrew Rule, John. 2010-04-19. The Age. en. 2020-05-19.
    47. https://archive.today/20120714213923/http://bulletin.ninemsn.com.au/bulletin/EdDesk.nsf/printing/B3161A7CD8ADCED4CA256E66000C8940 Burial ground
    48. http://bulletin.ninemsn.com/bulletin/EdDesk.nsf/printing/F9308A964571F1A8CA256E380005B649 Mobsters Inc: How Melbourne became No.1 with a bullet
    49. http://www.theage.com.au/news/Crime--Corruption/A-gangster-who-lived-as-he-died-by-the-gun/2005/03/04/1109700678517.html A gangster who lived as he died: by the gun
    50. News: Murder probe leads to Dutch jail cell . Silvester . J . . 31 May 2008. .
    51. News: Police probe on gang-hit pair . Chris . Evans . Dan . Silkstone . amp . . 1 June 2004.
    52. http://sunday.ninemsn.com.au/sunday/feature_stories/article_1578.asp 'Ganglands: The Force Strikes Back'
    53. http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/bewigged-mokbel-nabbed-in-cafe/2007/06/06/1180809556420.html Disguised Mokbel grabbed at seaside cafe
    54. Web site: Charges over gangland death . 28 April 2006 . 5 November 2020 .
    55. http://www.theage.com.au/news/Crime--Corruption/Williams-ordered-killings-court-told/2005/03/01/1109546867983.html Williams ordered killings, court told
    56. http://www.theage.com.au/news/Crime--Corruption/Underworld-war-effectively-over/2005/05/12/1115843312487.html Three facing charges over Moran killing
    57. http://www.theage.com.au/news/crime--corruption/underworld-killing-witness-jailed-for-contempt/2005/06/06/1117910239516.html Underworld killing witness jailed for contempt
    58. http://www.theage.com.au/news/crime--corruption/lawyers-guns-and-gatto/2005/06/18/1119034100459.html Lawyers, guns and Gatto
    59. News: Gangland killers found guilty . Madden . J . . https://web.archive.org/web/20051107015119/http://www.news.com.au/story/0%2C10117%2C17132232-421%2C00.html . 7 November 2005.
    60. http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=114208 Man remanded over gangland killing
    61. http://theage.com.au/news/national/charge-over-gangland-murder/2006/07/14/1152637837974.html Man extradited over gangland murder
    62. http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,21863523-5001021,00.html Tony Mokbel's failed $1.6m bribe
    63. http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=564890 Mokbel due to appeal in court on Tuesday
    64. http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/cash-drugs-and-weapons-seized/2007/06/06/1181089126495.html Cash, drugs and weapons seized
    65. https://web.archive.org/web/20090227010252/http://www.news.com.au/story/0%2C23599%2C24096061-29277%2C00.html Man in court over gangland murder
    66. News: Judy Moran found guilty of the-murder-of Des 'Tuppence' Moran. Anderson . Paul . Herald Sun. 9 March 2011 .
    67. News: Victoria announces royal commission into potentially tainted gangland convictions. 3 December 2018. ABC News. 3 December 2018.
    68. News: Tony Mokbel and the other criminals who could walk free thanks to the Informer 3838 scandal . 10 March 2019 . ABC News . 15 February 2019.
    69. News: Lawyer X identified as Nicola Gobbo after court lifts suppression order on Informer 3838 . 10 March 2019 . ABC News . 2 March 2019.
    70. News: Royal Commission into Management of Police Informants (Victoria) . 10 March 2019 . 8 March 2019.