Michele Scriva

Michele was born in Reggio Calabria on June 19, 1919 and migrated to Australia in 1936.

Scriva, a notorious hit-man, was the right hand man for Melbourne Godfather Liborio Benvenuto.

The pair were related through marriage.

Michele was married to a daughter of another Godfather, Domenico Italiano and his son Tom married one of Benvenuto's daughters.

Scriva was a stall holder at Melbourne's fruit and vegetable markets and in 1945 was acquitted of murdering Giuseppe "Fat Joe" Versace in what was probably Victoria's first Mafia hit.

Versace was stabbed 91 times in Fitzroy.

Scriva was charged with murder and stood trial along with Domenico Demarte and Domenico Pezzimenti.

They were all acquitted.

Scriva was later sentenced to hang for murdering Frederick John Duffy to death in North Melbourne in 1950.

Duffy, 36, attempted to intervene in a fight and was stabbed to death.

Scriva's sentence was subsequently commuted to life imprisonment but he only served 10 years.

In May 1989, Michele Scriva died a respected elderly Italian gentleman.

He was described by relatives as "truly a great man among men".