News, links, analysis and comments on Melbourne's Underworld

Monday, July 31, 2006

Condello suspect photfit released...

Condello murder suspect image released - National - theage.com.au:


"A photofit of the man police wish to speak in relation to Mario Condello's murder; the type of car seen in the 'immediate vicinity' of Condello's home at the time of the murder."


So MU readers: just who is this international man of mystery. Something tells us he's LOCAL, not an import as suggested...

Monday, July 24, 2006

Crikey Website - Reporter takes immersion journalism too far

There's always a bit of time to have a laugh at journos who get caught up in the excitement of the crime world...

Quite. a. big. laugh.

Crikey Website - Reporter takes immersion journalism too far

Thursday, July 20, 2006

More charges over gangland murder - National - theage.com.au

More charges over gangland murder :

"A further three people have been charged over the murder of gangland victim Mark Mallia."


Was this guy murdered by committee or what?

Tuesday, July 18, 2006

Murder accused blows court a kiss - National - theage.com.au

Murder accused blows court a kiss - National - theage.com.au:

"An accused gangland murderer blew a kiss, thumped his heart and gave a thumbs-up sign to friends as he was remanded in custody today."

The condemned man ate a hearty breakfast, thumped his chest and cried like a baby once back in his cell...

Second man charged with underworld murder - National - theage.com.au

Another one goes down for the Mallia murder.


Christopher Orfanidis, of Ardeer in Melbourne's west, is due to appear before Melbourne Magistrates Court at 10am charged with murder after he was formally arrested at Sunshine police station yesterday.

Do note that he was arrested at the station- in other words he "presented" himself at the station to be arrested.

The Age- Another Arrest

Friday, July 14, 2006

Mallia suspect arrested in Sydney

Police in Sydney this morning arrested Damien Cossu, 30, in connection with the murder of Mark Mallia, 30, a small-time criminal and close associate of standover man Nik Radev, on August 18, 2003.


This is an interesting development. We here @ MUI had pencilled in Ol' Andrew "Benji" Veniamin for that job, but with a trial coming for Cossu, we'll have to tkae notes and see what's goin' on...



Victoria Police had previously named Mr Cossu as a person of interest in their investigation into Radev's death.

Underworld identity Mick Gatto, at his trial over the killing of gangster Andrew "Benji" Veniamin, said he believed Veniamin was responsible for the murders of both Mallia and Radev.

Heavily armed police from NSW's homicide squad, working with Victoria Police's Purana taskforce, stopped a car and arrested Mr Cossu in the south-west Sydney suburb of Liverpool area about 7.30am today.



Interesting all round. Police had merely named him as a "person of interest". While many folk would jump to the conclusion that a "person of interest" translates roughly as "perpetrator", the truth is the cops often just think a person of interest knows someone who knows something. Several degrees of seperation. Take Graeme Kinniburgh- while he didn't pop Alphonse's clogs, he sure as hell saw Mark Moran do it. Therefore the cops would rate Graeme as a "person of interest" and not a perp.

Though it would appear that Cossu is definately more interesting than most...

The Age- Cossu's arrest in Sydney
ABC news website- Gangland Killing arrest

**UPDATE** He'll shortly be extradited to Melbourne:

The Age Gangland suspect extradited

Superintendent Grant said he expected police would make more arrests in relation to the Mallia murder in coming weeks. "We will be visiting several people over the next couple of weeks," he said.

Commander of the NSW Police homicide squad, Linda Howlett, said police said NSW Police had been working with Victoria Police since January on the case and today's arrest followed "a fair amount of assistance from the public''
.

Wednesday, July 12, 2006

Court lets bank sell Mokbel assets

FOUR months after he skipped the state, the way has been cleared for the properties of fugitive drug lord Tony Mokbel to be sold by National Australia Bank.

Once again, a bank benefits from the proceeds of crime...

Court lets bank sell Mokbel assets - National - theage.com.au

Thursday, July 06, 2006

...a quickie- Raid in Lalor

Purana underworld detectives today raided house in Lalor believed to be connected with the murder of underworld criminal Mark Mallia in 2003.

Mallia's badly burnt body was discovered dumped in a drain at the rear of a West Sunshine soccer club on August 18, 2003. Police initially had trouble identifying Mallia, a known associate of slain gangland figure Nick Radev, but yesterday confirmed that they recently received information leading them to believe Mallia may have been murdered at the Lalor house.


...more as it happens!

Deja vu

The easter bunny announced today:
"We do the best we can to have a corruption-resilient organisation and one that has a set of values and standards that all members adhere to,'' she said.

"We know that there will be some members (involved in corruption or unethical behaviour) on some occasions, but it is too early for us to suggest that any members have behaved inappropriately until the investigation is completed, until charges perhaps are laid, if that might be the step, but we are still very early in this process.''


The Age- corruption not endemic