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I didn't pay for murders: Williams
April 30, 2007 

Carl Williams today denied making cash payments for any of the four murders to which he has pleaded guilty and claimed that his plea came only after police told him his father and former wife could face charges.

He also says he did not offer to pay the three men arrested during an alleged foiled attempt to murder Carlton Crew boss Mario Condello.

Williams gave evidence at his pre-sentence hearing at the Supreme Court for the murder of three underworld figures between June 2003 and March 2004.

He has pleaded guilty to all of the killings but claimed the pleas came after police had introduced an "element of blackmail."

According to Williams, if he had not made the guilty pleas his father was going to be charged with the April 2003 murder of Bulgarian born standover man Nikolai Radev and his wife would have been charged with incitement to murder.

Williams told the Supreme Court that he had offered discount priced drugs for the murder of Lewis Moran but "didn't offer any money".

He also said he not not paid cash to anyone involved in the 2003 murders of Jason Moran, Mark Mallia or Michael Marshall.

Williams was found guilty of Marshall's murder at a secret trial in 2005, its' result not revealed until last month.

Williams said he spoke to murdered underworld figure and convicted killer Lewis Caine shortly before Lewis Moran was killed in March 2004.

"Lewis Caine asked me if I'd like Lewis Moran murdered and I said 'yes'," Williams told the court.

"He said would you put any money in to it and I said, 'no'."

Williams said that Caine then told him that the murder was going to happen anyway and that he was "getting money from elsewhere."

Caine then asked if he would give him cheap drugs if the hit was completed.

Williams agreed and said that he gave Caine over two pounds of amphetamines at $25,000 a pound rather than at his usual price of between $35,000 and $40,000.

He said that he did not speak to or have contact with any other of his co-accused before or after the murder.

Williams also claimed he did not know of any role by fugitive drug boss Tony Mokbel in the murders of Lewis Moran or Michael Marshall.

Justice Betty King said William's claim differed from facts already agreed by he and the prosecution.

She warned the prosecution that "it came close to traversing his plea''.

Williams' lawyer pleaded with Justice King not to impose a life sentence on his client.

David Ross QC asked that the penalty handed down to Williams would not be crushing and said that he "should be able to walk out of prison some day and not leave in a box".

Justice King agreed that Williams' guilty pleas saved the state millions of dollars and a series of trials which she believed would have lasted at least five years if he had contested the charges but she questioned Williams' remorse as he continually blamed his foot soldiers, saying the murders were "in all our best interests.".

Prosecutor Geoff Horgan, SC, said Williams had demonstrated no remorse, and had a cavalier disregard for the truth.

"His evidence was mendacious and his mode of presentation was arrogant," he said.

Mr Ross said his client regretted the terrible things that had happened but believed at the time it was "kill or be killed".

Justice King will sentence Williams on a date to be fixed.

Brothels washed Mokbel cash - Bounty hunters vie for $1 million prize (Herald Sun)
April 30, 2007

Today's Herald Sun is reporting that an underworld killer has told police Tony Mokbel secretly owned the Top of the Town brothel and laundered drug money through it.

Another story tells of a number of international Crime Stoppers programs joining forces to hunt him down.

In a statement made this month in Barwon Prison, the police informer said Mokbel bought the Top of the Town through his business partner Jacobus "Jack" Smit.

Recent court documents also reveal two of the fugitive drug boss's criminal associates held legal brothel licences.

One of Mokbel's most productive amphetamine cooks was operating a speed laboratory while running the Bambra Studio brothel in Glenhuntly Rd, Caulfield South.

He later sold the brothel for $400,000 after running it for five years.

Another key Mokbel gang member used to run the Ladies brothel in York St, South Melbourne, during the time he was selling millions of dollars worth of drugs for Mokbel.

It has since changed hands and now trades under the name Madam Leona's.

Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon will tomorrow tell a parliamentary committee that organised crime gangs are entrenched in Victoria's legal brothel and gaming industries.

She wants the Federal Government to force sex and gambling regulators to share intelligence with police so they are better able to identify and counter criminals within the lucrative industries.

Ms Nixon will give evidence about organised crime involvement in the legal brothel and gaming industries during tomorrow's hearing of the parliamentary joint committee on the Australian Crime Commission.

Her appearance before the committee comes only days after documents before the Supreme Court revealed the role of Mokbel and two of his gang members in legal brothels.

Three police informers gave evidence this month in a hearing for Mokbel's sister-in-law, Renate Mokbel, who is trying to free herself from prison after being jailed for failing to pay the $1 million she offered as surety for Tony Mokbel.

"Tony would place at least 25 per cent of his money through Jack Smit, who would put the money into business and properties," said one of the informers, a convicted killer.

"Jack also bought the Top of the Town with Tony's money and Tony told me that $2 million had gone through there under the table."

A company called Modaz bought the Top of the Town brothel in 1988 for $800,000.

Jacobus Smit, also known as Jack, is a director of Modaz.

Although court records show Mr Smit sold the Top of the Town in 1992, Australian Securities & Investments Commission records still list Modaz's office as 516 Flinders St, where the brothel is.

Mr Smit and Mokbel had plans in 2000 to build an $18 million winged keel apartment tower in Sydney Rd, Brunswick, and were both directors of Mokbel's Brunswick restaurant TJ's.

Tony Mokbel's brother Milad was last month committed to stand trial on charges of threatening to kill Matthew Harle and his wife.

Mr Harle is a former business partner of Jack Smit.

Milad Mokbel will face court in July.

Meanwhile a worldwide web of Crime Stoppers programs has been mobilised to hunt Mokbel down.

Former CIA operatives are among bounty hunters looking to claim the $1 million reward for bringing Mokbel to justice.

Victoria Police's Crime Stoppers unit has developed a plan to swamp the world's media with photos of Mokbel and pleas for information. Photos supplied by the Herald Sun and descriptions of Mokbel and girlfriend Danielle McGuire will be circulated internationally within the next few days.

Unit co-ordinator Det Sen-Sgt Val Smith said Victoria's unique multilingual Crime Stoppers initiative would also be used. All 48 ethnic newspapers that promote the Victorian program would be asked to forward information to their contacts in 62 countries.

"Mokbel can run, but we want to make sure he can't hide," Det Sen-Sgt Smith said. "Our aim is to get his face known in every corner of the world."

Crime Stoppers programs, which operate in 20 countries, have consistently produced stunning results since the concept began in the US in 1976.

Globally, tips to Crime Stoppers have led to 600,000 arrests, the clearing of more than a million cases and the recovery of more than $7 billion in narcotics and stolen property.

The managing director of a Melbourne-based private investigation agency said mercenaries overseas were keen to collect the reward.

Victorian Detective Service boss Mark Grover said he had sent information on Mokbel to an ex-CIA man based in the US. "He has contacts all over the world, many of them retired security service people, and they're definitely interested."

Since Mokbel skipped bail 13 months ago, rumours have placed him in Lebanon, Dubai, Turkey, Russia and Croatia.

$1 million for Mokbel sighting
By Geoff Wilkinson
Herald Sun
April 30, 2007

Roberta heart-broken (Herald Sun)
April 29, 2007

Gangster divorcee Roberta Williams has accused her serial killer ex-husband Carl of cheating on her with other women for a decade.

She said her heart was broken and accused Williams of ruining her life and leaving her an emotional wreck.

"I hate him right now. I hope he rots in hell to tell you the truth," she said.

In a wide-ranging interview Ms Williams revealed she:

PUSHED ahead with a divorce from Williams against his wishes.

WAS broke and sometimes struggled to feed her children.

DREAMED of having a childcare job, but realised people would not want to employ her.

RECEIVED a letter from the killer this week in which he said he felt sorry for her and realised she had been through "a fair bit".

SHAVED her head to raise money for cancer research.

Ms Williams slammed Ms Laureano, who has visited the former gangland leader in jail and supported him at his court appearances.

She said Williams had constantly had affairs throughout their relationship and marriage.

"Carl has had women for the last 10 years behind my back," she said.

"I used to cry myself to sleep."

Her anger exploded on Friday (April 27) after years of hurt, she said.

"I am not a psycho. People have to understand my heart is broken," she said.

"I expressed my hurt with aggression."

Ms Williams said she did not know whether she will ever visit her former husband in jail.

"That's going to take a lot of thought."

Mokbel's casino hideout (Herald Sun)
April 28, 2007

The hotel room where Tony Mokbel chose to hide as the underworld war raged on the streets below is one of Melbourne's finest.

It boasts a lounge room, bedroom with king-sized bed, giant bathroom and sweeping views of the Yarra River and city skyline.

The floor-to-ceiling windows are protected by a wall of curtains that slide quietly aside at the push of a button.

Mokbel also had access to a large electric safe and an office with a high-speed internet connection and private fax and phone number.

One night in room 1223 costs about $700. Weekend rates are higher.

The cocaine kingpin found sanctuary in the super-suite for about 20 nights a few months after being savagely beaten by thugs linked to the so-called Carlton Crew.

Other comforts include a spa bath and giant TVs complete with his favourite Sky Racing channel.

Roberta flies off the handle - Carl takes the stand
April 27, 2007

Serial underworld killer Carl Williams took the witness stand in the Supreme Court after Roberta Williams, his estranged wife, was almost ejected by security staff and Purana Taskforce detectives.

Carl Williams appeared before Justice Betty King for a plea hearing. He is expected to be sentenced next week.

Williams has pleaded guilty to the murders of gangland figures Jason Moran, Lewis Moran and Mark Mallia after some of his co-accused made admissions to police and implicated him.

He is already serving 21 years for the 2003 murder of hot dog salesman and drug dealer Michael Marshall.

Cameramen were targeted by Roberta's son, Tye, and another man while security staff kept a close eye.

Carl Williams site pulled (Herald Sun)
April 26, 2007

A website set up as a tribute to gangland kingpin Carl Williams, glorifying drugs, was removed from the internet.

Authorities feared it could have been set up by Williams' supporters.

Commenting on the web page, a Corrections Victoria spokeswoman said prisoner Williams had not created it and never had access to it.

"Victorian prisoners do not have access to the internet," the spokeswoman confirmed.

"We are opposed to any websites that glorify criminals or criminal activity."

A message in place of the web page stated: "This user has either cancelled their membership or their account has been deleted."

Detective cleared of George Williams theft
April 26, 2007

Detective Sergeant Barry Joseph Gipp was cleared of stealing a bank passbook from Carl Williams' parents, George and Barbara, and using it to withdraw $7500 from their account.

The passbook was allegedly stolen during a search of the Williams family home in November 1999, after the arrest of Carl and George.

George Williams gave evidence that during the search he saw an unidentified person standing at his dressing table and looking at his bankbook.

MP's Mokbel link raised
April 24, 2007 (The Age)

Labor MP Kelvin Thomson still has questions to answer about writing a reference for fugitive drug trafficker Tony Mokbel, Treasurer Peter Costello says.

It was reported that Mr Thomson's wife, Marsha Thomson, during her time as Victoria's consumer affairs minister had appointed Eric Hopkinson, who helped Mokbel as head of a liquor industry assistance fund. "It looks as if somebody who was appointed by the Victorian Government … was acquainted with Mr Mokbel and working on his behalf," Mr Costello said.

Victorian Premier Steve Bracks said Mr Hopkinson's appointment was made on an industry recommendation.

Zarah escapes further penalty
April 24, 2007

High profile Melbourne solicitor Zarah Garde-Wilson has escaped an increased penalty for contempt of court.

Victorian prosecuting authorities have failed in a High Court bid that could have increased her punishment.

Garde-Wilson's de facto husband Lewis Caine - a convicted killer and underworld figure - was murdered on a Brunswick Street in 2004.

In November 2005, Garde-Wilson, 29, was convicted of contempt at the Victorian Supreme Court, after refusing to give evidence against at the trial of Keith George Faure, who was later convicted of murdering Caine.

She claimed she feared for her safety.

Justice David Harper convicted Garde-Wilson but gave her no further penalty, after finding it was an exceptional case.

Justice Harper ruled that the conviction itself was sufficient punishment and did not impose a prison term.

He took account of Garde-Wilson's youth and lack of previous convictions, and said her refusal to give evidence was based on her fear of retribution.

Last year the Victorian Director of Public Prosecutions tried to appeal against the sentence, arguing that it was inadequate.

But the Court of Appeal refused the application, stating that the relevant law did not let the DPP appeal against penalty in contempt cases.

Appeal Court judge Justice Bernard Bongiorno said the Crimes Act contained a power for the DPP to appeal against a sentence imposed after conviction on an indictable offence.

But no power existed in contempt of court cases where the DPP was acting on behalf of the Crown and a summary conviction had been recorded.

Justices Michael Kirby and Susan Crennan refused the DPP special leave to appeal against the state court's refusal.

April 23, 2007
Horty denied bail

The Melbourne Magistrates' Court today rejected an application for bail lodged by Horty Mokbel, the brother of fugitive drug baron Tony Mokbel.

Magistrate Donna Bakos was not satisfied that there were the exceptional circumstances required for his release from jail.

He will appear again at a mention hearing on July 6.

Horty Mokbel is charged with trafficking amphetamines with a $40 million street value.

Associates of Mr Mokbel were charged last year, but he was not arrested until Friday April 13.

The court heard police acted then because of information that missing drug-making chemicals were in Mr Mokbel's possession.

Sen Det Tim Johns, of the Purana Taskforce, told the court that when a search warrant was executed at Mokbel's home on April 13, a note listing chemicals required for the production of speed was found in a black sports bag along with $9,205 which he alleged was the proceeds of crime.

Police fear Mokbel could use the same route as his brother to flee the country if released on bail.

Sen Det Johns said Horty was "very close" to Tony Mokbel and was believed to have access to the same resources and contacts to abscond.

Horty Mokbel allegedly supplied a drug cook the chemical known as P2P and the pair regularly met at the Grove Cafe in Coburg to exchange drugs and money.

The court heard the deal netted 46 pounds (20kg) of drugs between May 2005 and April last year, for which Mr Mokbel allegedly paid about $40,000 a pound.

Sen-Det Johns said Mr Mokbel ordered another 4kg of drugs during a meeting on April 8 last year but his drug cook was arrested a few weeks later.

The court heard the man agreed to become an informer and taped conversations with Mr Mokbel over three days.

Sen Det Johns said the pair met in the cafe and Mr Mokbel offered $40,000 a pound for up to 10 pounds of amphetamines.

Mokbel Magistrate bribe claim
April 17, 2007

A secret witness told the Supreme Court that fugitive drug baron Tony Mokbel once bragged of bribing a magistrate.

In a statement before court, the underworld drug figure said Mokbel "told me I owed him big-time" as he had paid a $20,000 bribe to a magistrate to assure the man's bail.

The witness was one of two men, who cannot be named, called by prosecuting authorities to testify in an application by Tony Mokbel's sister-in-law, Renate Mokbel.

The witness who gave evidence to the court via video-link, said that the Mokbel brothers were renowned for ripping off others and that the Mokbel women were "pawns in the game" who knew little of their husband's activities.

He said that he was to be paid $250,000, plus $80,000 to produce amphetamines for the Mokbels and to teach another man how to convert a chemical into saleable narcotics.

The man said he received $110,000 as payment, but on another occasion gave Milad Mokbel $70,000 to fund legal fees for Tony Mokbel. He agreed with Christian Juebner, for Reante Mokbel, that Tony Mokbel told him that none of the money reached the intended destination.

The informer also claimed that Milad Mokbel had implicated himself in a gangland killing and that he was still owed $3.3 million by Tony Mokbel, who allegedly left behind enough cash to pay his debts and that Milad Mokbel claimed he had left a safety deposit box in the city with cash to satisfy creditors.

But the man said he "didn't get a cent" from the box, if it existed.

The witness said Milad Mokbel told him about the safety deposit box, but he did not receive any of the money promised by Tony Mokbel for manufacturing drugs and educating others about the process.

The witness said he would "factor in" being ripped off when doing business with Milad Mokbel, and blamed himself for getting involved with the Mokbel family.

He said Milad Mokbel told him many times that he could end up the same way as Mark Mallia, whose remains were found in a wheelie bin in 2003.

"Milad said he was there when Mark Mallia was executed, so (I was told) don't push his buttons, or you'll end up the same way," he said.

Another witness, a confessed killer, said he had sold drugs sourced from Mokbel.

He said Mokbel told him he had "something to do" with the St Kilda Road break-in at the former police drug squad in 1996.

The witness said he supplied a van for Mokbel and returned to find it had boxes in it, with a blanket over them.

"I still didn't realise that the white van I had delivered to Tony had the papers from the drug squad in it," he said in his statement.

The gangland killer, who is serving time for helping organise the slaying of Jason Moran, claims in a statement that Carl Williams made up to $15 million from amphetamines and that Mokbel would "wash" his drug money through a brothel he helped buy in the city.

He also said he was buying speed from Milad Mokbel and would go into the laundry of his Brunswick home to collect it, and would drop off payments to Renate Mokbel if her husband wasn't there.

But he told the court the women in the family were never told what the money was for.

Tony Mokbel's former drug cook gave evidence that Ms Mokbel was aware of drug deals being made by her husband as whenever he was short on payments he would get his wife to deliver them.

"I have no doubt that Renate Mokbel was aware at all times that Milad Mokbel was involved in the unlawful distribution and sale of large quantities of illegal drugs," he said.

When Tony Gyorffy, for the Office of Public Prosecutions, suggested earlier that she did not want Tony Mokbel to be jailed, Mrs Mokbel replied: "I believe he should be sitting in jail, and not me."

Justice Kim Hargrave has reserved his decision.

April 18, 2007
Heather Parker avoids jail (Herald Sun)

The prison warder at the centre of a forbidden love affair which led to a spectacular jailbreak will not be locked up for her attack on a love rival.

Former warder Heather Dianne Parker, 42, helped her lover, notorious criminal Peter Robert Gibb, and another inmate escape from the Melbourne Remand Centre on March 3, 1993.

Today she was handed an 18-month suspended sentence for an attack on a woman who admitted having sex with Gibb.

Parker punched the woman - Heather Lee Gibbs - in the face and repeatedly struck her arm against a bench, hit her with kitchen stools and kicked her.

Ms Gibbs suffered a broken arm and spent six days in hospital.

Parker, of Rosebud West, pleaded guilty to one count of recklessly causing serious injury to Ms Gibbs.

County Court Judge Sue Pullen said the unrelentless attack was serious and Parker's behaviour unacceptable.

``I accept the victim suffered considerably,'' Judge Pullen said.

The court heard that Parker was suffering post-natal depression at the time and the attack was not planned. Judge Pullen accepted that her depression contributed to the attack.

A relieved Parker kissed her defence counsel Ben Rozenes on the cheek after the sentence.
The jail term will be suspended for 2 1/2 years.

April 20, 2007
Attalah's former partner stood down as prison officer (Herald Sun)

A Prison officer who was allegedly in bed with a convicted criminal shot dead when he answered a knock at the window has been banned from going back to work.

Attalah was blasted in the chest when he opened his bedroom window on Friday April 13 after hearing knocking at his rented Thomastown house about 4am.

Attalah was on bail for drug-related charges.

It is believed he is a distant relative of fugitive drug lord Tony Mokbel.

April 19, 2007
Tanner bid rejected (Herald Sun)

Russian gang in tatters
April 16, 2007 (Herald Sun)

Secret police files infiltrated
April 14, 2007 (The Age)

The girlfriend of a Melbourne crime figure has gained access to confidential police records in a serious security breach.

The woman, who was not a police officer, was working at the force's criminal records branch.

She was suspended from the force last month, resigned 14 days ago and has been interviewed by Purana taskforce detectives for inappropriately checking the law enforcement assistance program (LEAP) and VicRoads databases.

Force command confirmed that an employee from the corporate support area had resigned because of "one occasion in which she inappropriately accessed" the database.

But senior police sources have told The Age she has been accused of wiping the records of possibly hundreds of criminals and selling information from the confidential files. More

Horty Mokbel arrested
April 13, 2007

Man executed in Thomastown
April 13, 2007

Charlie Attalah, 56, was fatally shot several times in the upper body at his Heyington Avenue, Thomastown, home about 4.10am.

Neighbours told police they heard between three and five shots.

Attalah was on bail on drug trafficking and manufacturing charges.

There was a knock at the window, Attalah answered and he was shot several times to the upper torso.

Inspector Steve Clark from the homicide squad denied the death was connected to a bikie gang feud or the underworld.

But the Herald Sun reported that Attalah had drug connections, including fugitive drug kingpin Tony Mokbel.

Attalah's friend and landlord, Lupco Slaveski, said he was saddened by the murder.

Mr Slaveski also confirmed that Attalah knew the Mokbel family.

"He knew the boys, that's all I can say," he said.

Mr Slaveski said he knew about Mr Attalah's criminal past and had received complaints about him.

He said the house had been raided last October, and police had seized equipment used to produce amphetamines.

New Tanner claim (Herald Sun)
April 11, 2007

A man whose wife was found dead in mysterious circumstances in 1984 is making a last-ditch bid to pursue legal action against the State of Victoria.

Laurie Tanner, whose wife Jennifer died of gunshot wounds to the head in the family's Bonnie Doon home, claims police who were installing listening devices in a shed on his Mansfield property viciously attacked him.

His barrister, David Brookes, told the County Court that in 1998 -- almost 14 years after his wife's death -- Mr Tanner came upon intruders in the barn.

Mr Brookes said the intruders set upon Mr Tanner and he suffered life-threatening injuries, including a fractured skull, a stab wound and extensive facial injuries.

Mr Tanner was lucky to have survived, he said.

Mr Brookes claimed the attackers were members of a taskforce charged with installing listening devices in the barn ``and he was punished for entering the barn''.

State Coroner Graeme Johnstone found in 1999 that Mr Tanner's brother, former policeman Sgt Denis Tanner, shot and killed Jennifer Tanner.

Denis Tanner claims she committed suicide.

Laurie Tanner found his wife, 27, slumped with a .22 calibre bolt-action rifle between her legs.

She had two bullet wounds in her head and one in each hand.

Mr Tanner launched civil proceedings in 2003 with his son Sam against 22 defendants, including police, prosecutors and the State Coroner.

Now he wants the County Court to give him more time to serve the writ and he wants permission to file an amended statement of claim.

He has narrowed the field of defendants to four -- the State of Victoria, the Chief Commissioner of Police and two police officers.

Mr Brookes said yesterday that the two policemen were allegedly part of the taskforce and either took part in the assault or allowed it to occur.

It is understood Sam, who was 21 months old at the time of his mother's death, will be removed from the civil action.

Mr Tanner is claiming damages.

But Peter Golombek, representing the four defendants, said the application was incompetent.

Mr Golombek claimed the plaintiff had failed to comply with a 2005 court order which set out conditions for any further time extensions.

The delay was also inordinate, he said.

He asked the court to dismiss the application.

Judge Tim Holt ordered that Mr Tanner's lawyers amend their claim and return to court on April 19.

George Williams form denial
April 12, 2007 (Herald Sun)

George Williams has denied fabricating bank withdrawals to gain an advantage over police.

The father of notorious gangland figure Carl Williams returned to the witness box in the trial of policeman Barry Joseph Gipp, 45.

Det-Sgt Gipp is accused of stealing a bank passbook from Carl Williams' parents, George and Barbara, and using it to withdraw $7500 from their account.

The passbook was allegedly stolen during a search of the Williams family home in November 1999, after the arrest of Carl and George.

Money was withdrawn from the Commonwealth Bank account on three occasions the day after his arrest and while he was still in custody, the jury has been told.

The withdrawal slips carried what were purported to be George Williams' signature but he says he did not sign them.

Det-Sgt Gipp denies stealing the passbook or withdrawing the cash.

Mr Williams said he did not fabricate the withdrawals or get anyone else to do so.

Det-Sgt Gipp has pleaded not guilty to theft and three counts each of obtaining property by deception, making a false document and using a false document.

The trial, before Judge Leo Hart, was continuing.

Mokbel net widens
April 13, 2007 (Herald Sun)

Croatia and Russia have emerged as possible hideouts for fugitive drug kingpin and murder suspect Tony Mokbel.

They are among the countries in which police hope to promote the $1 million bounty placed on Mokbel, 41.

They believe there could be overseas takers for the $1 million put on the head of the runaway crime boss this week.

There is nothing to stop foreign citizens from collecting the money if they can help bring Mokbel back to Victoria.

Croatia and Russia join a long list of places, including northern Lebanon, Dubai and Turkey, where authorities think the mobster could be hiding.

Investigators believe that if Mokbel has been in Lebanon he may have left because, even under a false identity, he would have been compelled to do national service after 12 months.

Mokbel tip-off - Who knew what?
April 13, 2007 (H/Sun)

Gangland solicitor Zarah Garde-Wilson was allegedly served with documents naming Tony Mokbel as an underworld murder suspect just days before he fled overseas.

The high-profile lawyer has denied tipping off the missing millionaire that an informer had named him as being behind a gangland slaying.

The drug dealer fled in March last year before he could be charged with murder.

Police reacted angrily yesterday to her suggestion that they were the source of the leak that triggered Mokbel's flight.

"You would have to seriously question the credibility of this woman," a Victoria Police spokeswoman said.

A top-level underworld informer made a statement just before Mokbel skipped bail, naming him as the organiser of the killing of hotdog vendor Michael Marshall outside his South Yarra home.

Police have claimed in court that not only was Ms Garde-Wilson responsible for passing on the informer's allegations to Mokbel, but that she was also having a relationship with him.
The Herald Sun has been told that the statement, which was the first to identify Mokbel as a suspect for gangland killings, was served on Ms Garde-Wilson on March 14 last year -- six days before Mokbel vanished.
April 13, 2007

Tony Mokbel tipoff denied
April 12, 2007 (Herald Sun)

Gangland lawyer back in court
April 11, 2007 (Herald Sun)

Get out, Radev associate told
April 9, 2007 (Herald Sun)

The Immigration Department has issued an overseas-born criminal living in Melbourne with a notice of intention to cancel his visa.

Ukrainian-born Dima Mendelis, 26, was linked to underworld enforcer Nik "The Russian" Radev, shot and killed by Carl Williams' associates during the gangland war.

Mendelis is eligible for parole this month after serving a jail term for a string of offences, including aggravated burglary.

According to court documents, he has more than 35 criminal conviction, among them intentionally causing injury and making threats to kill.

A spokeswoman for Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews said Mendelis had until April 23 to persuade the minister why he should be allowed to remain in Australia.

Mendelis was last sentenced in July 2005 on one count of aggravated burglary, multiple counts of burglary and offences that included possessing a prohibited weapon, ammunition and police identification.

The Herald Sun believes Mendelis, listed as a permanent Australian resident, is due to appear before the Adult Parole Board next week.

Plot to kill Carl at christening
April 9, 2007

Underworld heavyweights Lewis and Jason Moran arranged to kill rival Carl Williams in front of scores of guests at his daughter's christening.

The planned public bloodbath was foiled at the last minute when police secretly stepped in to save Williams.

Detectives set up a sting operation in which Williams was arrested and jailed just hours before the scheduled hit.

A person deep within fugitive drug boss Tony Mokbel's gang tipped off police that Williams was about to be murdered at his six-week-old daughter Dhakota's christening.

The informer told a detective the Morans had hired two Sydney hitmen to gun down Williams at a Keilor reception centre during the christening party.

The Herald Sun revealed details of the 2001 kill plot following the lifting of suppression orders relating to Williams.

The burly drug lord was shocked when police told him about the sickening plan.

"But then Carl showed some grudging respect for the plan, saying it wasn't a bad one as he would have had his guard down at his daughter's christening," a police source said.

Detectives believe the foiled plot prompted Williams to come up with his own plan to murder Jason Moran when he least expected it.

The Morans put a contract on Williams in 2001 after he shot dead Jason's half-brother, Mark Moran.

They wanted to deliver a strong message and decided killing Williams in front of family and friends at his daughter's christening was a very public way of proving that point.

Police discovered the plot only three days before it was due to be carried out.

An emergency meeting of senior officers was called to discuss how to thwart the attack.

They decided that staking out the christening party in the hope of identifying and catching the hitmen was too dangerous.

A plan to put a booze bus outside the christening to deter the execution was considered.

However the meeting decided getting Williams behind bars was the safest option.

Williams was on bail awaiting trial over a $20 million drug operation, so another arrest would guarantee to put him behind bars and out of reach of the hired killers.

Police command agreed to provide $100,000 to detectives so they could set up a sting involving an undercover officer buying drugs from Williams.

The sting worked and after heavily armed members of the special operations group swooped Carl Williams was found with Victoria Police's $100,000 in his lap and he and Roberta were jailed that day.

Roberta was granted bail 48 hours later, but it was 14 months before Carl got out.

The couple were both later convicted of trafficking in a commercial quantity of ecstasy over the drug sting that saved Carl's life.

Dhakota's christening was rescheduled for December 2003 after her father was released.

Carl and Roberta were keen to portray themselves as a loving and law-abiding family.

They invited the ABC's Four Corners to film the christening at Crown casino's plush Palladium Room. They chose Crown because is had the best security in Victoria.

Among the 120 guests was Greg Domaszewicz -- the babysitter who was acquitted over the 1997 murder of Moe toddler Jaidyn Leskie. 

Chopper bankrupt
April 8, 2007 (Sunday Herald Sun)

Notorious former gangster Mark "Chopper" Read is being investigated after declaring himself bankrupt with a credit card debt of almost $80,000.

The criminal-cum-celebrity amassed the debt in only two months, before filing for bankruptcy.

Read says he also owes $140,000 to 12 people who gave him private loans.

In documents filed with Insolvency Trustee Services Australia, the best-selling author said all he had to his name was $100 and a 27-year-old ute.

But bankruptcy investigators want to know what has happened to the cash Read earned from his 11 books, artworks that sold for up to $8000 and a string of business ventures.

Read said officials raided his home as part of what he called a "heavy-handed" investigation.

"They think I have got treasures hidden somewhere," he said.

Bankruptcy documents reveal Read amassed a total of $78,328 on four credit cards in April and May last year, then filed for bankruptcy in November.

Read, 52, told the Sunday Herald Sun that a gambling addiction, failed art gallery, lack of work and the cost of looking after his family led to his financial collapse.

Milad Mokbel to stand trial
April 5, 2007 (Herald Sun)

A Magistrate today committed Milad Mokbel to stand trial after a three-day hearing.

It is alleged the younger brother of fugitive drug trafficker Tony Mokbel threatened to kill a lawyer and his wife.

Milad Mokbel is charged with two counts of making threats to kill and one count of blackmail.

Magistrate Donna Bakos said there was enough evidence to send Mr Mokbel, of Brunswick, for trial on a charge of blackmail and two counts of making threats to kill.

She remanded Mr Mokbel in custody to face the County Court in June.

McEvoy threatens to shoot police
April 5, 2007 (The Age)

Accused police killer Peter McEvoy has threatened to come to Melbourne and shoot the first police officer he sees before turning the gun on himself.

Police who know him say his threat should be taken very seriously.

McEvoy, 51, now living in NSW, was one of four men charged and acquitted by a Supreme Court jury of the ambush murders of constables Steven Tynan and Damian Eyre in Walsh Street, South Yarra, on October 12, 1988. hatred of police, particularly those who worked on the Ty-Eyre Taskforce investigating the murders.

Victoria Police warned staff that McEvoy had telephoned the St Kilda Road police complex on March 29 and expressed his "issues" with several officers. He named six officers, former and serving, who he was unhappy with, and claimed there was a conspiracy in the force to get him.

The email alert said that McEvoy "threatened to 'get a gun, come down to Melbourne, find someone with a badge and top him, then top himself' ".

The email said McEvoy had said he was on medication and could not control his actions.

Retired policeman John Noonan, who headed the Ty-Eyre Taskforce and who appears on McEvoy's hate-list, said yesterday that the threat should be taken seriously. "He's violent, probably armed, has done numerous armed robberies and we've alleged that he's certainly implicated in the murder of the two (police) members and he's got the propensity to do exactly what he says he's going to do," he said.

Mr Noonan was concerned that a warning had not been issued sooner. "(McEvoy) called on March 29 and after I was told (about it) by chance … I made some inquiries only to be told nothing was happening about it at all," he said.

"The police who took the call from him actually rang McEvoy back and confirmed who he was and then apparently were going to send something to NSW police to follow it up but didn't."

Mr Noonan said he was shocked to later find that the threats had been deemed "minimum to no risk".

"The people investigating the threats … believed McEvoy's poor health precluded him from being able to carry out the threats," he said.

Mr Noonan said more disturbing was the fact that officers investigating the threats had not checked McEvoy's criminal past.

He said that investigators were not aware that McEvoy had allegedly been involved in police murders, armed robberies, serious assaults and other serious crimes. "That's a huge worry." Victor Peirce, his half-brother Trevor Pettingill and Anthony Farrell were also charged and acquitted of Tynan and Eyre's murders.

Police say the four, with others including Graeme Jensen, Jedd Houghton, and Paul Prideaux were members of a gang being investigated over a string of armed robberies at the time.

Houghton was shot dead by police in a Bendigo caravan park on November 17, 1988. Gary Abdallah, who is said to have stolen the car used to lure police to Walsh Street and was the gang's car thief and getaway driver, was shot by police inside a Carlton flat on April 9, 1989. He died 40 days later.

Peirce was killed while sitting in his car in Bay Street, Port Melbourne on May 1, 2002, after he accepted a contract to kill underworld identity Jason Moran but then changed his mind and warned Moran. No one has been convicted over his murder.

After his acquittal, Peter David McEvoy was sentenced to seven years' jail over his involvement in a bank robbery that took place two months before the two constables were gunned down.

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said last night that the force took all threats seriously, whether they were made against police or not.

"Precautions are put in place that may not be evident to people not involved in the investigative group," she said.

Police Association secretary Paul Mullett described McEvoy's threat as "an example of where our members are potentially put in a dangerous situation while carrying out their jobs".