Andrew Veniamin
Encyclopedia
Andrew "Benji" Veniamin (16 November 1975 – 23 March 2004) was an Australia
n criminal, convicted car thief, murderer accused of killing 7 underworld figures and was one of the key figures involved in the Melbourne underworld killings. He was also a suspected hitman for the Williams crime family.
immigrant parents.
He was an altar boy at the local Greek Orthodox Church
in Sunshine
. He fathered a daughter as the result of a casual affair; she was born shortly before his own death.
Victoria Police
say Veniamin was one of the most dangerous and feared men connected to Melbourne
's crime scene, and by the time of his death in 2004 they had connected him with several of Melbourne's underworld murders.
Veniamin worked at the wholesale fruit and vegetable market with Frank Benvenuto, who was killed in Beaumaris
in May 2000. He was also a known associate of Dino Dibra
who was murdered at his home in October 2000, and of Paul Kallipolitis, who was shot in similar circumstances two years later.
Veniamin met with Nik Radev
on 15 April 2003, the day Radev was murdered in Coburg
. Veniamin associated with an underworld group known as The Carlton Crew and after 2003 was connected with the Williams Family, and was a close friend of Carl Williams.
on 23 March 2004 at around 2.30pm after being shot by former associate Domenic "Mick" Gatto
. Gatto was charged with his murder but acquitted on self-defence grounds.
During the trial, Gatto claimed Veniamin had pulled out a .38
pistol and threatened to kill him. Gatto claims that during a struggle he was able to turn the gun around on Veniamin and fire one shot into his neck, and one shot into the eye. Gatto also claimed that during the argument, Veniamin had implicated himself in the deaths of Dino Dibra
, Paul Kallipolitis and Graham Kinniburgh
; he is also believed to have killed underworld figure Victor Pierce. His funeral was held at the Greek Orthodox Church
in Sunshine
, Melbourne
, the same church where he had been an altar boy.
, he is played by actor Damian Walshe-Howling
.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n criminal, convicted car thief, murderer accused of killing 7 underworld figures and was one of the key figures involved in the Melbourne underworld killings. He was also a suspected hitman for the Williams crime family.
Background
Veniamin was born to Greek CypriotGreeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
immigrant parents.
He was an altar boy at the local Greek Orthodox Church
Greek Orthodox Church
The Greek Orthodox Church is the body of several churches within the larger communion of Eastern Orthodox Christianity sharing a common cultural tradition whose liturgy is also traditionally conducted in Koine Greek, the original language of the New Testament...
in Sunshine
Sunshine, Victoria
Sunshine is a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia lying 11 to 13 km west of the CBD. Its Local Government Area is the City of Brimbank. At the 2006 Census, Sunshine had a population of 8,070.-History:...
. He fathered a daughter as the result of a casual affair; she was born shortly before his own death.
Victoria Police
Victoria Police
Victoria Police is the primary law enforcement agency of Victoria, Australia. , the Victoria Police has over 12,190 sworn members, along with over 400 recruits, reservists and Protective Service Officers, and over 2,900 civilian staff across 393 police stations.-Early history:The Victoria Police...
say Veniamin was one of the most dangerous and feared men connected to Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
's crime scene, and by the time of his death in 2004 they had connected him with several of Melbourne's underworld murders.
Veniamin worked at the wholesale fruit and vegetable market with Frank Benvenuto, who was killed in Beaumaris
Beaumaris, Victoria
Beaumaris is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 20 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Bayside. At the 2006 Census, Beaumaris had a population of 12,441....
in May 2000. He was also a known associate of Dino Dibra
Dino Dibra
Dino Dibra was an Albanian-Australian suspected murderer and a victim of the infamous Melbourne gangland killings....
who was murdered at his home in October 2000, and of Paul Kallipolitis, who was shot in similar circumstances two years later.
Veniamin met with Nik Radev
Nik Radev
Nikolai "The Russian" Radev was a Bulgarian refugee who became known as a career criminal in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
on 15 April 2003, the day Radev was murdered in Coburg
Coburg, Victoria
Coburg is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 8 km north from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Moreland, although a handful of properties on Coburg's Eastern boundary are located in the City of Darebin...
. Veniamin associated with an underworld group known as The Carlton Crew and after 2003 was connected with the Williams Family, and was a close friend of Carl Williams.
Roberta Williams
He was a close friend of Carl Williams and his wife Roberta. Although Roberta had previously rejected claims she and Veniamin were intimate, in early 2009 she admitted that he was her soulmate. She said that every Tuesday he would pick her daughters up and take them to religion classes, bring them home and give them a bath. He said his favourite day of the week was Tuesday and Roberta said her younger daughter, Dhakota, idolised him.Death
Veniamin died in the La Porcella restaurant in CarltonCarlton, Victoria
Carlton is an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 2 km north from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Melbourne...
on 23 March 2004 at around 2.30pm after being shot by former associate Domenic "Mick" Gatto
Domenic Gatto
Domenic "Mick" Gatto is an Italian-Australian criminal and is known for his involvement in the Melbourne underworld.Gatto is a 'professional mediator' within the building industry in Melbourne...
. Gatto was charged with his murder but acquitted on self-defence grounds.
During the trial, Gatto claimed Veniamin had pulled out a .38
.38 Special
The .38 Smith & Wesson Special is a rimmed, centerfire cartridge designed by Smith & Wesson. It is most commonly used in revolvers, although some semi-automatic pistols and carbines also use this round...
pistol and threatened to kill him. Gatto claims that during a struggle he was able to turn the gun around on Veniamin and fire one shot into his neck, and one shot into the eye. Gatto also claimed that during the argument, Veniamin had implicated himself in the deaths of Dino Dibra
Dino Dibra
Dino Dibra was an Albanian-Australian suspected murderer and a victim of the infamous Melbourne gangland killings....
, Paul Kallipolitis and Graham Kinniburgh
Graham Kinniburgh
Graham 'The Munster' Allen Kinniburgh was an Australian organised crime figure from Kew, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia...
; he is also believed to have killed underworld figure Victor Pierce. His funeral was held at the Greek Orthodox Church
Greek Orthodox Church
The Greek Orthodox Church is the body of several churches within the larger communion of Eastern Orthodox Christianity sharing a common cultural tradition whose liturgy is also traditionally conducted in Koine Greek, the original language of the New Testament...
in Sunshine
Sunshine, Victoria
Sunshine is a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia lying 11 to 13 km west of the CBD. Its Local Government Area is the City of Brimbank. At the 2006 Census, Sunshine had a population of 8,070.-History:...
, Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, the same church where he had been an altar boy.
In television
In the drama series UnderbellyUnderbelly (series)
Underbelly is an Australian television true crime-drama which originally broadcast on the Nine Network. Each series contains 13 episodes and is based on real-life events including the Melbourne gangland killings between 1995-2004, the Griffith drug trade between 1976-1987, and the Kings Cross scene...
, he is played by actor Damian Walshe-Howling
Damian Walshe-Howling
Damian Walshe-Howling is an Australian actor, best known for his role as Andrew "Benji" Veniamin in the Australian underworld drama, Underbelly, for which he won the Best Supporting or Guest Actor in a Drama Series at the 2008 AFI Awards.-Biography:He also starred on Blue Heelers as Constable Adam...
.