Carl Williams to dodge a bullet?

Not a literal bullet mind, he's ducking and weaving like a bantam weight. Pretty cool given he's, well, fat. And the Insider can confirm Roberta's been in the green paddock while in jail. Or she's pregnant. Or something.

The Crown is considering dropping a murder charge against underworld figure Carl Williams, a Melbourne court has been told.

Geoff Horgan, SC, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, told Melbourne Magistrates Court the charge against Williams over the murder of gangster Mark Moran may be withdrawn.

Williams appeared at today's hearing via a video link.

"The question of whether the prosecution will withdraw this charge is still under consideration," Mr Horgan told Chief Magistrate Ian Gray.

Why is the case going arse up?
Hard to say really, there are some problems relating to evidence and it would seem some people who'd represented they'd do and say one thing, are now harder to find. (ok longest hyperlink ever, but, well, necessary)

It's a family affair...

Father and son duo George and Carl Williams have been ordered to stand trial on charges relating to an alleged million-dollar drug ring.

The two men appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court on several charges, including trafficking a commercial quantity of methylamphetamine between December 2002 and mid-2004.

At least Roberta is now out of jail so she can go back to running t5he show like she always has. With Carl out of the way she'll be able to cut down on the hero factor...

Hitman planned shooting 'at school' - Crime & Corruption - www.theage.com.au

Hitman planned shooting 'at school' - Crime & Corruption - www.theage.com.au

Corrupt police 'offered to kill' - Crime & Corruption - www.theage.com.au

Even more shocking revelations about the Hodson case, this time in The Age:

Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner (Crime) Simon Overland has confirmed murdered informer Terence Hodson told them corrupt officers were touting themselves as underworld contract killers.

The ABC's AM program reported that Hodson, who was executed with his wife Christine in their East Kew home last year, was approached by corrupt officers who asked him to solicit murder contracts on their behalf.

Corrupt police 'offered to kill' - Crime & Corruption - www.theage.com.au

Four Corners - 14/03/2005: Melbourne Confidential

Last night's 4 Corners on the ABC featured a story from top investigator Chris Masters:

Victoria Police have long insisted that no firm links can be drawn between the parallel scandals of the gangland killings and the entrenched corruption that has plagued parts of the Victoria Police.

But Four Corners can reveal new evidence that supports this connection – evidence that Terence Hodson took to his grave.

Reporter Chris Masters profiles the murdered Terence Hodson, a British migrant, devoted father and grandfather, who opportunistically turned his hand to anything that would turn a dollar – drugs, guns, stolen goods, cars, antiques.

Compelling stuff...

Four Corners - 14/03/2005: Melbourne Confidential

Man survives 'contract' he took out on own life

Some clown wants to commit suicide.. and fails.
There's a lot more to the story but:

It is believed the pair spent the $10,000 on top-shelf alcohol, a box of Cuban cigars and mobile phones. They are expected to be charged on summons with attempted murder.

At least they behaved like low brow crims.
Man survives 'contract' he took out on own life - National - www.theage.com.au

Exhibition draws fire

I don't know much about art, but I know a lot about crime...

Exhibition draws fire - Arts - www.theage.com.au

Strike FOUR and you're out?

Carl is having a pretty tough time of it as we blog...

Police are set to charge alleged underworld figure Carl Williams with a fourth murder, claiming he stalked and shot drug dealer Mark Moran outside his luxury Aberfeldie home nearly five years ago.

Now this case was stone cold dead in the water. Purana (and just about everybody) knew the rumours surrounding Carl's involvement (though most thought it was Benji who did done the trigger work..) but the cops couldn't pin it on him with any certainty. What changed?

The breakthrough comes after a key witness told police he drove Williams within walking distance of Moran's Combermere Street home on the night of the murder.

Good help is so hard to find. Yes the guy dropping Carl in it MR X is the same Mr X who managed to get a whole 7 years off his 25 year sentence for dobbing in Carl. Worst of all, Mr X has deprived us of Carl's antics for about 35 years or so...

The word of a convicted crim doesn't carry much weight on its own... but then:

Another witness, who is not connected with the underworld, has been able to corroborate much of Mr X's statement.

A second criminal source is also alleged to have made a statement against Williams.

Oh this is bad, very bad for our boy. Maybe he will be able to go in "The Biggest Loser" while in prison? He's got a bit to lose...


Murder charge No.4 for Williams - Crime & Corruption - www.theage.com.au

Carl Williams- Game Over?

Huge story brewing here folks- it appears that Carl Williams is to be charged with the murder of Mark Moran in June 2000.

It's been rumoured that Carl was involved ever since he gobbed off at Jason Moran in prison about how he "took the bullet out of my stomach and put it in Mark" (referring to the earlier shooting of Carl by the Moran brothers...) but frankly we here at Melbunderworld news always thought Carl was a bit of a pussy when it came to tooling about.

We was wrong!

Seems Carl was a regular Wild Bill Hickok eh? He didn't stay down and dirty once the cops were onto him though- the late great Benji put up his hand and Carl handed over the rosco just as fast as he had used it.

So folk- is this the end game? It was said that the Carlton Crew were gone once the Munster and Lewis Moran went- but seems the Williams crew are not far behind- all the trigger men are dead or in jail, the players are in jail and tony Mokbel is just waiting for a knock at the door.

And what happens now? Well a vacuum rarely stays a vacuum when there is fresh air nearby.

*Calling all tough guys, your time has arrived*

The Age- Williams arrest in Nov 2003
The Age- Watch on Mark Moran Lifted days before murder...
Melbourne Crime Site- Moran murders

25 - grassing yer mates = 18

A prosecution supergrass who agreed to give evidence against underworld figures Carl Williams and Victor Brincat yesterday became the first person jailed for murder over Victoria's recent gangland killings.

The informer, known only as Mr X, was sentenced in a secret Supreme Court hearing at Ballarat to 18 years' jail.

I'm sure many of you have seen the US "Law and Order" franchised TV shows. In these shows, the accused can cut all sorts of deals and get their sentence reduced significantly.
Not so here in Australia- The accused can roll over, but the charges will stand- the judge alone has discretion and in this case, one can't quite see where Mr X gets his motivation:

"Justice Teague said he would have jailed Mr X for at least 25 years, with a 20-year minimum, had he not agreed to co-operate with authorities and plead guilty to murder."

Here at Melbourne Underworld news are fully aware of the identity of Mr X and frankly cannot understand why there is a supression order surrounding his name:

• The people he has implicated/testified against know who he is
  
• Fellow prisoners know who he is

Why it matters whether the public knows is beyond us- I'm pretty sure the public don't care either way.
Go figure. But on this rare occasion we will respect the judges decision and despite these servers being based in the USA where the supression order has no weight, we will not reveal who Mr X is...

Underworld supergrass gets 18 years for killing

Underworld recruiting in prisons - Crime & Corruption - www.theage.com.au

Some of the main suspects in Victoria's underworld war are trying to recruit fresh troops inside Melbourne's prisons, according to Corrections Commissioner Kelvin Anderson.

We're told there are two types of recruit:

The "lifers" recruited to strong arm in prison.

The short sentence hard men wanted for work outside.

The issue here is whether there is enough to sustain a new war. As said in the media in recent rtimes, the war has taken a cease fire as the main layers are either in prison or dead...


Underworld recruiting in prisons - Crime & Corruption - www.theage.com.au

What's that you say Keithy?

Dobber, dobber!

Notorious Melbourne underworld figure Keith Faure has turned on an associate and admitted being present at the shooting murder of crime patriarch Lewis Moran, a court was told today.

This is ol' Keithy:

Chopper: Oh, Keithy. I always thought I was a good bloke.
Keithy George: Ha. What did you ever do that was good?
Chopper: Well, I bashed you. That was good, wasn't it? It was good for a bit of a giggle, anyway.

It's interesting that Keithy has folded up on this. It's hard to see if he's got form for lagging, but one thing remains- ol' Keithy has been unable to reitre gracefully. Thats the thing about living the tough guy life- there are but two retirement plans: Bars or Box.

Chopper: You don't much like me, do you Keithy?

There's also the possibilty that the police want to fuck Keithy's shit up by putting it about he's the one wobbling the gob.
One could believe that it's Evangelos Goussis going the blab:

Goussis remained silent during the brief hearing today, but lodged a complaint about his imprisonment under 23-hour-lockdown at Barwon Prison through his lawyer, Maria Priolo.

"My client just wished to express for the record he has experienced torturous conditions in custody for the past seven months," she said.

Sounds a bit Guantanamo Bay does it not? That sort of living can drive a man to seek a deal...
The Age- Wobbly gob Keithy

US-style powers to hit crime

Analysis will follow....:

A US-style special prosecutor and unprecedented police powers will be used to attack organised crime in Victoria, but civil liberties groups claim the proposal is dangerously flawed.

The new officer, with the title chief examiner, will have coercive powers and can demand answers from organised crime suspects. Self-incrimination will no longer be accepted as a reason for not answering questions.

The Age: US-style powers to hit crime

Chris Johnson- on field hit man is off field...?

Brisbane Lions chairman Graeme Downie reacted angrily yesterday when Lions triple-premiership player Chris Johnson was named by a radio station as having links to members of the Melbourne underworld.

Those writers!! Why did they pass up the opportunity to say "Brisbane have come out FIRING?" ot "Taken a shot at thaose who named the player" or even "accused those who named Johnson of character assasination"

So many opportunities-lost.

I had hoped the Herald Sun would get on board:

Top Lion link to accused in murder case

AFL triple premiership player Chris Johnson has been linked to a man arrested over three Melbourne gangland murders.

Brisbane Lions' star Johnson and Alfonse Traglia have been close friends and at one point last year spoke almost daily.

Traglia last month was charged with the murders of drug boss Jason Moran and his friend Pasquale Barbaro in June last year at an Essendon North children's football clinic.

There's a bit of spice, but where are the damn sub editors?

In a rather hilarious effort the Herald Sun publish a disclaimer before tipping a bucket on a few current and former players:

The Herald Sun does not suggest Johnson was ever involved in any criminal behaviour. The spotlight on Melbourne's underworld has also uncovered other relationships between prominent footballers and gangland identities.

They include:

THE brother of a rising AFL star linked to accused drug boss Carl Williams.

A STAR midfielder who has been a friend of an armed robber who has come under Purana notice.

RICHMOND player Ty Zantuck who is a friend of the Moran family and was at the funerals of Jason Moran and his father Lewis.

FORMER AFL star Wayne Johnston who attended the funeral of Jason Moran and was a friend of his brother Mark, who was murdered in June, 2000.

Traglia is in the top security Acacia unit of Barwon Prison, near Geelong.

Chris Johnson played in Brisbane's premiership triumphs of 2001, 2002 and 2003 and has won all-Australian selection.

A highly-skilled and courageous player, he started his career with Fitzroy and headed north when the clubs merged in 1996.

Football and crime.... It's not a new thing folks. Been around since the year dot. Once connected with gambling (legal and illegal) now its moving more into players social lives. They no longer have jobs AND play footy so idle hands... (ask Wayne Carey...)

The Age- Gangland link to AFL player
Herald Sun: Top Lion link to accused in murder case

Gangland accused refused bail

An alleged crime boss charged with conspiring to kill Melbourne underworld figure Carl Williams today lost a bid to be freed on bail.

But in refusing the application, Supreme Court judge Justice Bernard Teague said 52-year-old Mario Condello's prison conditions were "unacceptable".

Justice Teague said the "particular difficulty in communicating with lawyers is particularly to be condemned".

Condello is facing charges of inciting and conspiring to kill Williams, his father George Williams and an unidentified bodyguard.

Well thats put the European holiday on hold indefinately. Just as well coz I gather the European holiday was going to be indefinite as well...

The Age: Top AFL player linked to underworld figures

John Silvester writes in a very delicate-dance-around-it kinda way about an AFL player who has some "interesting friends"...

The player has been seen with members of one of the warring groups and was spotted by surveillance police while he was associating with gangsters at a five-star Melbourne hotel.

He doesn't say who or even which club. But we here at MelbUnderworld don't care:
It is Chris Johnson from the Brisbane Lions. It doesn't suprise us considering that Johnson used to be fond of the sponsors product and the odd beer at the Tunnel in the old days (circa 1995-97) when he played for Fitzroy with some very colouful characters.

Add in that he originally hailed from Jacana, which is very close to Carl Williams'Broadmeadows. Ahh, perhaps retirement will mean he can get into the protection game.

Maybe one day he can be just like Benji!!

The Age- John Silvester reports

Just on a fishing trip...

THE Carlton Crew criminal gang was losing the underworld war and needed to wipe out the rival Williams clan, a court heard yesterday.

"I think it's all going to die down . . . I think the other side, they're too strong. They've won," he allegedly said.

I believe it was Ancient Greek leader Phyyrus who said after losing a lot of men in a winning battle "Another victory like that and we're done for..."

Mr Condello allegedly offered the hitman $150,000 a head for the slayings and said there would be no peace until Carl Williams was "put in a hole".

Carl put in a hole? Hmmmm as stated earlier on this blog, we think Carl is a brainless moron. He might be in jail, but someone else was there:

Roberta Williams, wife of Carl Williams, was seated in the public gallery of the court to hear claims Mr Condello gave the hitman advice on where to find her relatives and how to kill them.

Like, whoa! Holy shit! she has giant brass balls. Really. I'm quite suprised she didn't call out, spit, have a go, shoot, blow up, scratch some eyeballs out, etc. She is, without doubt, one bad arse, cold, measured bitch.

No shit!

Herald Sun Story

The Age Story

Don't hang with Judy if you wanna live..

PUBLICATION of a book written by gangster widow Judy Moran has been delayed.

The book, which was expected to be released this year, will hit bookshop shelves early next year.

Mrs Moran has lost two sons and a husband to Melbourne's gangland wars of the past six years and those deaths are expected to be a major focus of the book, entitled Another World.

Ol' Judy reminds me of a funny Bill Hicks segement when Bill talks about an ad on TV where a guy tells his sob story about drugs:

Anti Drug guy: "I lost my job, then my car, then my house, then my kids. Don't do drugs."

Billy Hicks: Well, I'm definitely not doing them with you, fuck! Man, you're bumming me out, get him out of here! Who invited Mr. Doom over, get that guy out of here!

I'm not saying that you shouldn't hang out with Judy Moran, I'm just saying don't marry her. If you are related to her, like, mate, get the hell outta Dodge.

It wasn't just her ex husband Lewis Moran who got knocked, but also the Kane lads as well!

Mrs Moran's husband, Lewis, was murdered at Brunswick in March this year, Jason was gunned down at Essendon North in June last year and another son, Mark, was shot dead at Aberfeldie in June, 2000.

Having all yer family wiped out used to be Kath Pettingill's domain...

Book release delayed: Herald Sun

Kill offer a charade, court told

A MAN accused of conspiring to kill alleged underworld figure Carl Williams was taking part in a charade, a court heard yesterday.

Mario Condello, 52, believed Mr Williams was plotting his death, the Supreme Court was told.
So Mr Condello led a would-be hitman, who was actually a police informer, to think he wanted Mr Williams dead so he could gather information on him, the court heard.

Oh boy oh boy is this going to be a close one. Mario et al have really done their homework on this. Be advised: they wanted Carl Williams d-diddly Dead. And I reckon it's self defence myself.... but hell this new direction is better than my idea.

Probably why I'm NOT a defence lawyer eh?

During Mr Condello's bail application, defence lawyer Anthony Howard, QC, said the case against his client was weak and based on the word of an unreliable police informer.

But there's one GAPING hole that they will be sure to drive a truck through:

His lawyer, Tony Howard, QC, told Justice Bernard Teague that the Crown case was weak and based on "inaudible and fragmented" recordings of conversations made covertly by the informer, known as 166. The informer had had drugs charges against him dropped after he helped police, Mr Howard said.

But if the charges against Condello fall over can someone PLEASE explain who the fuck conspired to murder Lewis Caine????

The Age story
The Herald Sun version

Gangland wife 'incited Moran killing'

She's just a housewife people. Just a housewife...

Lady MacWilliams:Out DAMNED SPOT! Photo: Michael Clayton-Jones, The Age

The wife of alleged underworld identity Carl Williams has been accused of inciting the murder of crime patriarch Lewis Moran.

The accusation could not be reported until Roberta Williams, 35, yesterday pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court to drug trafficking charges.

A protected witness, who is in hiding with a new identity, has promised to give prosecution evidence against Roberta Williams implicating her in encouraging Moran's murder.

Of course for Roberta to qualify as a "housewife", one would have to modify the job description slightly to include: trafficking, conspiring to murder, fraud, etc, etc.

For sometime now, many people have held the opinion that Carl Williams is, quite frankly, as dumb as dog shit. He may have some street smarts, but his public (media) performances have made him come across as a brain damaged moron. This may indeed be an act (think: Vincent 'The Chin' Gigante who faked being a moron for 30 years...), but one tends to lean towards the "real moron" scenario.

Roberta on the other hand is as cunning as a gutter rat. John Silvester described the two groups of crims as Wise guys

These men tend to keep low profiles, and while they enjoy the trappings of success they don't flaunt their wealth.

and Tough Guys:

In an underworld increasingly dominated by warring drug syndicates and fuelled by a massive market in illegal amphetamines, these men now hold sway. To these criminals, respect becomes more important than revenue. And violence is often the first option.

Carl was (and we say was coz he is staring down the barrel of 20+ years in prison) a Tough Guy with a Moron moon rising.

But Roberta is more enigmatic. She is a non specific kinda gal. She happily invited the Sunday program cameras into her home to "plead" her case. She came across as a genuine, seet, loving wife who was confused about the media and police attention. Those who knew better could see through this, but to an outsider, she was seemingly truthful. This is classic Wise guy thinking. "Behind every great man..." never rang truer.

It has long been the opinion of the contributors on this website that Roberta Williams plays a dangerous game. She is not invincible, nor does she have a bulletproof vest in the form of being a mother. This may have been the case a few years ago. She was and is a major player and more and more she looks like Lady Macbeth. Blood on her hands- Lewis Moran for one, and probably many others to boot. She is alone now. While there is always an underworld social climber willing to be her bodyguard, the death of Benji and th imprisoning of Brincat and others means she does not have a genuine "tool" man around the house to defend her. She might be a player, but she's no Kath Pettingill (Kath was always willing to get REAL blood on her hands..)

I can't see her getting a long custodial sentence, she might even get off, but I can see her getting knocked at some stage. She has just said and done too much. Carl is untouchable (well, possibly) while in prison. But believe this, the Carlton gang want him hurt.

And knocking the missus is one sure fire way to burn him...
Gangland wife 'incited Moran killing'