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Detective Rix said police wanted
to hear from the fruiterers associates at the Footscray Market and the Italian
community.
Det-Insp Rix said he had spoken
to Mr Benvenuto while investigating past market-related crimes and he was
"always a very pleasant, well mannered and polite person."
On
September 13, 2007, Frank's brother, Vince
Benvenuto, was
arrested in a Caulfield Street by the Special Operations
Group.
He was charged with possessing
cocaine, amphetamines and an
unlicensed pistol.
After
his arrest Benvenuto, 54, was
interviewed by Purana detectives over
the murder of Victor
Peirce.
It is
believed Benvenuto was formally
cautioned and gave a "no
comment" record of interview on
legal advice.
Police
have established that Peirce was
waiting to meet Benvenuto when he was
killed.
They
believe the killer was a Melbourne
hitman now dead.
Detectives
have been told that after Benvenuto's
murder a well-known underworld figure
rang Peirce to tell him of the
death. They remain intrigued as to how
the figure knew of the hit before the
information was made public.
Following
the shooting, the hitman asked Peirce
for a meeting. According to Peirce's
wife, Wendy, the hitman wanted an
assurance that Pierce would not seek
revenge for his friend's murder. Mrs
Peirce said (the hitman) "wanted
a meeting with Victor and they met in
a Port Melbourne park. He wanted to
know if Victor was going to back up
for Frank. He was his best mate.
Victor took a gun and (the hitman)
would have been armed."
Mrs
Peirce said both gunmen agreed there
would be no more violence. But police
say those who organised the hit on
Frank Benvenuto remained concerned
that Peirce might decide to strike
back and ordered his death.
On
June 22, Purana detectives arrested Faruk
"Frank" Orman and
charged him with Peirce's murder. They
allege he was the driver of the hit
team.
Detectives
are now investigating claims that
Vince Benvenuto was asked to assist on
behalf of a senior gangland identity.
The
head of the Purana taskforce,
Detective Inspector Gavan Ryan, said:
"We are progressing on a number
of gangland murders. We will keep
going no matter how long it
takes."
On
December 24, 2007, John
Silvester wrote in the Age that the
Purana gangland taskforce had
launched a long-term
investigation into Italian
organised crime, including
several unsolved murders.
Silvester
wrote that detectives
are looking into five
"hits" they suspect
may have been ordered by leading
Italian-Australian gangsters.
These include the murders of Gerardo
and Vince
Mannella,
Joe
Quadara, Frank
Benvenuto and Victor
Peirce.
The
cases have been officially
switched from the homicide squad
to Purana.
The
first phase for the taskforce
was to concentrate on the
murders ordered by drug dealer Carl
Williams. Williams was
earlier this year sentenced to
35 years' jail for the murders
of Jason
Moran, Michael
Marshall, Lewis
Moran and Mark
Mallia.
The
second Purana phase was to
investigate Tony
Mokbel's drug syndicate,
uncover his hidden financial
network, and find him. On June 5
this year Mokbel was arrested
in Greece and charged with
two murders and a string of drug
offences. He is expected to be
extradited by mid-next year.
Detective
Superintendent Richard Grant
said Purana would take on new
targets next year. He said
intelligence files were being
checked to identify a new crime
ring that required long-term
investigation.
Meanwhile,
homicide investigators have
found that a hitman who worked
for Williams also worked for
Italian gangsters. Andrew
"Benji" Veniamin
was considered to be Williams'
loyal lieutenant, but police now
believe he carried out three
contract killings for Italian
gangsters before Williams
recruited him.
They
believe his first known victim
was Joe Quadara, and he remains
the suspect for the murders of
Frank Benvenuto and Victor
Peirce.
Police
suspect Veniamin was the gunman
in seven underworld murders.
They say he shot dead Dino
Dibra, on October 14, 2000, Paul
Kallipolitis, whose body was
found on October 25, 2002, and
was the main suspect in the
murder of standover man Nik
Radev, who was shot dead on
April 15, 2003. Radev had an
appointment to see Veniamin on
the morning he was murdered, and
was also part of the torture
team that grabbed and killed
Mark Mallia in August 2003.
Police
say that both Peirce and
Veniamin worked for Benvenuto at
different times when the
apparently respectable
businessman felt the need to
intimidate enemies at the
wholesale fruit and vegetable
market.
Veniamin
was shot dead by a Melbourne
identity, Mick
Gatto, on March 23, 2004 in
a Carlton restaurant. Gatto was
acquitted of murder on the
grounds of self-defence.
Purana
detectives working on the
Italian murders have arrested a
man they allege was the driver
when Veniamin ambushed Peirce in
Bay Street, Port Melbourne.
On March 11, 2008, a preliminary hearing for Faruk Orman began at Melbourne Magistrates' Court.
The court heard Peirce] was gunned down by Andrew Veniamin in a hearing for the accused getaway driver, 26, of Sunshine, who appeared at a commital hearing, charged with the murder of Peirce six years before.
Defence barrister Robert Richter QC told the court there was no question that "Benji" Veniamin killed Peirce, saying he undoubtedly planned and carried out the execution.
Mr Richter said much of the case against his client was based on claims by Venimain made to other parties including an informer that may not be admissible.
The informer is due to give evidence tomorrow.
Orman was remanded in custody.
On March 12, 2008, an underworld associate was asked if it was okay for hitman Andrew Veniamin to kill Victor Peirce, a court witness said.
The witness, known as witness B for legal reasons, told the court he approached underworld associate Michael Laverde two weeks before Peirce's murder to ask if it was okay for Veniamin to kill him.
He told the court he discussed the planned hit with Mr Laverde at his dry-cleaning business in suburban Coburg.
"I approached him because I thought he may have been friends with Victor Peirce," witness B told the court.
"He didn't care, as it was nothing to do with him," he said.
Witness B said that in the underworld there was an unwritten understanding if someone had been targeted, that it was discussed.
"In the underworld, if people are going to get knocked they ask others about it," witness B said.
"Some ask and some don't.
"Usually in the underworld ... if we can try to stop a shooting we will."
Witness B told the court that Veniamin confessed to Peirce's murder.
He said that Veniamin told him that he and Orman had planned to meet Peirce in a car park but saw him in Bay Street and decided to pull up alongside his car.
Witness B has denied any role in Peirce's murder.
He also told the court that Veniamin, who was shot dead in a Carlton restaurant in 2004, confessed to murdering another crime figure Dino Dibra in 2000.
He alleged that Orman had also been Veniamin's get-away driver in that murder.
On March 13, 2008, the court was told Victorian detectives were not told of phone intercepts which could have led them to the alleged killers of Peirce until five years after he was shot dead.
Melbourne Magistrates Court was also told an underworld associate was asked if it was okay for hitman Andrew Veniamin to kill Peirce.
Purana Taskforce Detective Sergeant Boris Buick told the court Orman became a suspect in Peirce's murder after the police informer known only as witness B made statements to police in 2006.
Those statements were corroborated by Australian Crime Commission telephone intercepts, Det Sgt Buick told the court.
"It was when he (Orman) was first nominated," he said.
"And after a review of Australian Crime Commission telephone intercepts which corroborated his (witness B) statements."
But he told the court Purana detectives did not know about the phone intercepts until five years after Peirce's murder.
"Telephone intercepts were held by the Australian Crime Commission and were not released to us until five years later," Det Sgt Buick said.
He said police had information showing Orman picked up Veniamin on the night of Peirce's murder, and both men's mobile phones were not used between 8.30pm and 11pm.
"It was about 8pm or shortly after on May 1, 2002 (Orman picked up Veniamin)," Det Sgt Buick said. "Both Veniamin and Orman turned their phones off during the time of the murder."
Witness B told the court he approached underworld associate Michael Laverde two weeks before Peirce's murder to ask if it was okay for Veniamin to carry out the hit.
He said he discussed the planned hit with Mr Laverde at his dry-cleaning business in suburban Coburg.
"I approached him because I thought he may have been friends with Victor Peirce," witness B said.
"He didn't care, as it was nothing to do with him."
Witness B said it was common for underworld figures to discuss when someone had been targeted, in order to avoid deaths.
"In the underworld, if people are going to get knocked they ask others about it," witness B said.
"Some ask and some don't. Usually in the underworld ... if we can try to stop a shooting we will."
Witness B has denied any role in Peirce's murder.
The court also heard Mick Gatto helped Andrew Veniamin "set up"Peirce, who was killed before he could get revenge on the pair for killing Benvenuto.
The underworld informer told police Peirce was murdered after he found out that Gatto had ordered Veniamin to kill Benvenuto.
Benvenuto, who hired Peirce as protection after a series of disputes at the market in the late 1990s, was shot dead outside his Beaumaris house on May 8, 2000.
"About two years after Frank's murder, Andrew said he heard Peirce had found out it was him who had killed Frank and he was worried that Peirce was going to get revenge on him and Mick Gatto. That's why he asked Mick to help him set up Peirce," the informer told police.
He said Veniamin had previously worked for Benvenuto but changed allegiances when Gatto found out Benvenuto had put a contract on his life.
"Andrew told me that Gatto gave him an ultimatum: that he come and work for him and take care of Frank Benvenuto or else Andrew would cop it," he said.
That evening Gatto denied the allegations, describing the informer as a renowned liar and the dead men as his friends, before adding: "The truth will come out."
The informer disputed rumours that Carl Williams ordered Peirce's murder because he reneged on a $200,000 deal to kill rival gangster Jason Moran. "(Williams) hadn't even met Andrew at this stage, as I was the one who introduced Andrew to Carl when he got out of jail after Peirce's murder," he told police.
Two statements made by the informer were tendered to Melbourne Magistrates Court.
The informer, a drug dealer who has confessed involvement in two gangland murders, said Orman was the driver for Veniamin
The informer said Gatto had Frank Benvenuto's brother, Vince Benvenuto, set up Peirce, to whom he was supplying drugs.
He said Vince Benvenuto arranged to meet Peirce at the rooftop car park of a Port Melbourne supermarket but, when Pierce didn't turn up, they arranged another meeting the following night.
The informer said Veniamin was "obsessed" with getting Peirce and became depressed when Pierce didn't show up to the first meeting. "Andrew's reputation was that of a killer. That was his profession and he loved it," he said. He said Veniamin asked for Gatto's help because he was having "a lot of trouble finding Peirce".
In the March 16, 2008, Sunday Herald Sun, Mick Gatto broke a three-year silence to refute claims he was behind several unsolved underworld hits.
Gatto and his legal team said they have information that contradicts the allegations made against him.
Mr Gatto's team may produce documentary evidence in a bid to clear his name.
Mr Gatto and his lawyers say his name is being tarnished despite the fact that there are no charges against him.
"I find these allegations scurrilous," Mr Gatto said.
"I've never arranged a hit on anyone."
Mr Gatto said he believed he was being defamed as part of a personal vendetta.
He said he believed it was happening because as far as police were concerned, "I'm the only one who's got through the loop".
"It's annoying for me. It's annoying for my family. It's annoying for everyone. Personally I just want to be left alone."
Mr Gatto said he had told police he was prepared to be interviewed if he was suspected of anything, but they had not taken up the offer.
He said that otherwise his life was good.
"I've got no complaints. I try to mind my own business and keep my head held high," Mr Gatto said.
But he said he believed modern policing was eroding civil liberties.
Saying that the police have a powerful tool, Mr Gatto said "they can put people up (in custody) for 23 hours a day with no contact with the outside world until they've rolled over".
"And once they've rolled over, they turn them into puppets. Accused people who are innocent until proven guilty are locked away in a little eight-by-four room," he said.
"They drive people to the point that they are so desperate, they say anything at all to get out of there."
Mr Gatto had avoided the limelight since being acquitted of murdering Veniamin in 2005.
He said the previous week that reports Veniamin was "like a son to him" were not accurate.
"I used to see him once a week, once a fortnight. He was a powerful little figure over in Sunshine," he said.
A Victoria Police spokewoman declined to respond to Mr Gatto's comments.
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Frank Benvenuto