The Gangland War (54 page)

Others were apathetic: three murder victims had security systems that didn't work. Others kept predictable routines that made it easy for killers to track them. Two did not use their secure garages, preferring to park in the street – with fatal results.

Several rejected chances to start new lives: Gangitano and Jason Moran returned from overseas only to die. Several refused police protection.

THE turnaround came because finally police got resources denied to investigators for years. They were given time, money and surveillance gear: in fact, 75 percent of the force's phone tapping and listening devices.

Many politicians and media experts predicted Purana would fail but they were wrong. For the first time in memory the underworld code of silence was smashed.

But while law enforcement has learned that organised crime needs to be constantly attacked, history shows that immediate problems get the resources at the expense of long-term solutions. Eventually, the extra effort needed to mount a Purana-type campaign will be too hard.

Meanwhile, there will always be a supermarket shelf-stacker who wants to be the next Carl Williams, a milk-bar owner who wants to be Tony Mokbel and a schoolyard bully who wants to be Alphonse Gangitano.

The Underworld War is over. Until the next one.

1
Gregory John Workman
Shot dead by Al Gangitano on February 7, 1995.

2
Alphonse John Gangitano
Shot in his Templestowe home on January 16, 1998, by Jason Moran.

3
John Furlan
Died from car bomb on August 3, 1998. Suspect: the late Domenico Italiano.

4
“Mad Charlie” Hegyalji
Shot in garden of his South Caulfield home on November 23, 1998. Alleged killer later shot dead.

5
Vince Mannella
Shot by unknown man as he returned to North Fitzroy home on January 9, 1999.

6
Joe Quadara
Shot dead as he arrived at work at a Toorak supermarket on May 28, 1999.

7
Dimitrios Belias
Body found in a pool of blood below a St Kilda Road office on September 9, 1999.

8
Gerardo Mannella
Shot as he left his brother's North Fitzroy home on October 20, 1999. One person close to him knew he was about to die.

9
Frank Benvenuto
Shot in Beaumaris on May 8, 2000.

10
Richard Mladenich
Shot in a St Kilda motel on May 16, 2000.

11
Mark Moran
Shot outside his house near Essendon on June 15, 2000.

12
Dino Dibra
Shot outside his West Sunshine home on October 14, 2000.

13
George Germanos
Shot in an Armadale park on March 22, 2001.

14
Victor George Peirce
Shot in his car in Port Melbourne on May 1, 2002.

15
Paul Kallipolitis
Shot in his West Sunshine home in October 2002.

16
Nik ‘The Bulgarian' Radev
Shot in Coburg, on April 15, 2003.

17
Shane Chartres-Abbott
Shot June 4, 2003, in Reservoir. Alleged corrupt police involvement.

18 & 19
Jason Moran and Pasquale Barbaro
Shot in hotel car park in Essendon North on June 21, 2003. Gunman jailed and now a police witness.

20
Willie Thompson
Shot dead in his car in Chadstone on July 21, 2003.

21
Mark Mallia
Charred body found in a drain in West Sunshine on August 18, 2003. Carl Williams pleaded guilty to his murder.

22
Housam ‘Sam' Zayat
Shot during in a paddock in Tarneit on September 9, 2003.

23 & 24
Steve Gulyas and Tina ‘Bing' Nhonthachith
Shot at their Sunbury property on October 20, 2003.
Prime suspect overseas.

25
Michael Ronald Marshall
Shot outside his South Yarra house on October 25, 2003. Carl Williams convicted of his murder.

26
Graham ‘The Munster' Kinniburgh.
Shot outside his Kew home on December 13, 2003.

27
Andrew ‘Benji' Veniamin
Shot at a Carlton restaurant on March 23, 2004. Mick Gatto acquitted of murder on self-defence.

28
Lewis Moran
Shot dead in the Brunswick Club on March 31, 2004. Hit man pleaded guilty; now a police witness.

29
Lewis Caine
Shot in Brunswick on May 8, 2004. Gunman jailed and now a police witnesses.

30 & 31
Terence and Christine Hodson
Shot dead at their Kew home on May 15, 2004. Suspected corrupt police involvement.

32
Mario Condello
Shot dead in garage of his East Brighton home on February 6, 2006. Suspected gunman identified.