Carl Williams
Encyclopedia
Carl Anthony Williams was a convicted murder
er and drug trafficker from the Australian state of Victoria
. He was the central figure in the Melbourne gangland killings
.
He was sentenced to life imprisonment
with a non-parole period of 35 years for ordering the murders of three people and conspiracy to murder a fourth (which was unsuccessful). On 19 April 2010, while incarcerated at Barwon Prison, Williams was beaten to death with part of an exercise bike by another inmate.
Williams enlisted the help of others willing to perform the contract killing
s in exchange for large payments of cash. At the time of his death, he was in the maximum security Acacia unit of HM Prison Barwon
near Geelong. Williams would have been 71 before he was eligible for parole
.
On 25 November 1999, Williams, along with his father, George and another associate, was arrested and charged with drug trafficking after a raid on a Broadmeadows illegal drug factory. In excess of 250,000 amphetamine
tablet
s were seized by police, estimated to be worth up to $20 million.
Williams, who described himself as a semi-professional gambler, was banned from the Crown Casino
complex on 2 April 2004 by police commissioner Christine Nixon
under the Casino Control Act.
because he owed the Morans thousands of dollars. This event gave rise to a lengthy underworld war known popularly as the Melbourne gangland killings. In 2002 after meeting through a mutual friend Tony Mokbel
, Carl Williams would court the services of the murderer Andrew Veniamin
as his right hand man until late 2003.
club in Essendon
, on 21 June 2003. Williams ordered two associates to carry out the murder. The location of the shooting was reported to be behind the Cross Keys Hotel in Strathmore, Victoria
. The murder was witnessed by six children aged 6 and under.
. At 8.05 am on 18 August 2003 a fire was reported in a stormwater drain in Sunshine
. Fire brigade members attending to the fire recovered a wheelie bin containing the remains of a charred body inside, later identified as Mallia.
Club on 31 March 2004. Williams pleaded guilty to his murder.
to the murders of Lewis Moran
, his son Jason Moran
and Mark Mallia (whose name was initially suppressed by the court).
Williams also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to murder gangland rival Mario Condello
. A suppression order
prevented the media from reporting this until the day of sentencing. Under a deal with police, Williams was not charged for his alleged involvement in orchestrating the murder of Mark Moran, Jason Moran's half brother.
It was also revealed that Williams was serving a sentence of 21 years for the 2003 murder of Michael Marshall. The outcome of this trial had previously been suppressed.
newspapers including the Herald Sun revealed that Victoria Police
are paying $8000 in school fees for Williams' daughter. The reason for the payment was not revealed at the time. However, during the 2011 murder trial, it was revealed Williams had turned informant and had struck a deal with Assistant Commissioner Simon Overland. Williams gave information on several unsolved murder cases believed to have involved corrupt officers and it was also revealed his murderer may have been implicated in at least one. Williams' lawyer Rob Stary said Williams was upset about the publication of the story.
There was speculation that the police may have agreed to pay the school fees in exchange for information, and that publication of the story may have led to Williams' death. The Herald Sun has defended its publication of the story.
while incarcerated at Barwon Prison. It is alleged that he was struck with part of an exercise bike by another inmate—Matthew Charles Johnson— who has since been charged with murder.
Williams' funeral was held on 30 April 2010 at St Therese's Catholic Church in Essendon
. In January 2011 it was reported that William's resting place had still not received a headstone and consisted of a nameless plot.
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
er and drug trafficker from the Australian state of Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
. He was the central figure in the Melbourne gangland killings
Melbourne gangland killings
The Melbourne gangland killings were the murders in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia of 36 criminal figures or partners between 16 January 1998 and 13 August 2010. The murders were in a series of retributional murders involving various underworld groups. The deaths caused a sustained power vacuum...
.
He was sentenced to life imprisonment
Life imprisonment
Life imprisonment is a sentence of imprisonment for a serious crime under which the convicted person is to remain in jail for the rest of his or her life...
with a non-parole period of 35 years for ordering the murders of three people and conspiracy to murder a fourth (which was unsuccessful). On 19 April 2010, while incarcerated at Barwon Prison, Williams was beaten to death with part of an exercise bike by another inmate.
Williams enlisted the help of others willing to perform the contract killing
Contract killing
Contract killing is a form of murder, in which one party hires another party to kill a target individual or group of people. It involves an illegal agreement between two parties in which one party agrees to kill the target in exchange for consideration, monetary, or otherwise. The hiring party may...
s in exchange for large payments of cash. At the time of his death, he was in the maximum security Acacia unit of HM Prison Barwon
HM Prison Barwon
HM Prison Barwon is a maximum security Australian prison located at 1140 Bacchus Marsh Road, 6 km from the township of Lara, , Victoria, Australia. Barwon provides accommodation and services for maximum security mainstream prisoners including a 20-bed facility for high security prisoners and a...
near Geelong. Williams would have been 71 before he was eligible for parole
Parole
Parole may have different meanings depending on the field and judiciary system. All of the meanings originated from the French parole . Following its use in late-resurrected Anglo-French chivalric practice, the term became associated with the release of prisoners based on prisoners giving their...
.
Early life
Williams attended Broadmeadows West Technical School, leaving in Year 11. Williams spent much of his childhood in Western Melbourne with his friends and older brother Shane who died of a drug overdose in 1997. He was married to convicted drug trafficker Roberta Williams (born 23 March 1969), with whom he had one child, born 10 March 2001. Williams held various labouring jobs before opening a children's clothing store in partnership with his wife, which eventually failed. Williams' mother Barbara was found dead in her Melbourne home on 22 November 2008. She had been suffering from depression.On 25 November 1999, Williams, along with his father, George and another associate, was arrested and charged with drug trafficking after a raid on a Broadmeadows illegal drug factory. In excess of 250,000 amphetamine
Amphetamine
Amphetamine or amfetamine is a psychostimulant drug of the phenethylamine class which produces increased wakefulness and focus in association with decreased fatigue and appetite.Brand names of medications that contain, or metabolize into, amphetamine include Adderall, Dexedrine, Dextrostat,...
tablet
Tablet
A tablet is a pharmaceutical dosage form. It comprises a mixture of active substances and excipients, usually in powder form, pressed or compacted from a powder into a solid dose...
s were seized by police, estimated to be worth up to $20 million.
Williams, who described himself as a semi-professional gambler, was banned from the Crown Casino
Crown Casino
Crown Casino and Entertainment Complex is a large casino and entertainment precinct located on the south bank of the Yarra River, in Melbourne, Australia. Crown Casino is a unit of Crown Limited....
complex on 2 April 2004 by police commissioner Christine Nixon
Christine Nixon
Christine Nixon APM was the Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police between 23 April 2001 and 27 February 2009. After leaving Victoria Police, she was appointed chair of the Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority in February 2009 until she stood down from the position in July...
under the Casino Control Act.
Melbourne gangland killings
On 13 October 1999, Williams was shot in the abdomen by Jason MoranJason Moran
Jason Matthew Patrick Moran was an Australian criminal from Melbourne, Victoria, and one of the leaders of the Moran crime family, notable for its involvement in the Melbourne gangland killings. He sported a 12 cm scar on the side of his face.-Early life:Moran was the son of Lewis Moran and...
because he owed the Morans thousands of dollars. This event gave rise to a lengthy underworld war known popularly as the Melbourne gangland killings. In 2002 after meeting through a mutual friend Tony Mokbel
Tony Mokbel
Antonios Sajih 'Tony' Mokbel is an Australian from Melbourne, Australia, who was a fugitive until his recapture in Athens, Greece on 5 June 2007. He is of Lebanese descent and born in Kuwait. Detectives from Operation Purana allege that he is the mastermind behind the Melbourne amphetamines trade...
, Carl Williams would court the services of the murderer Andrew Veniamin
Andrew Veniamin
Andrew "Benji" Veniamin was an Australian criminal, convicted car thief, murderer accused of killing 7 underworld figures and was one of the key figures involved in the Melbourne underworld killings...
as his right hand man until late 2003.
Mark Moran
Mark Moran was shot on 15 June 2000 after arriving at his home in Aberfeldie. Williams was due to stand trial for his murder, but the charge was dropped when he pleaded guilty to other murders.Jason Moran
Jason Moran and associate Pasquale Barbaro were shot dead sitting in Moran's car at a footballAustralian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
club in Essendon
Essendon, Victoria
Essendon is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 10 km north-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Moonee Valley...
, on 21 June 2003. Williams ordered two associates to carry out the murder. The location of the shooting was reported to be behind the Cross Keys Hotel in Strathmore, Victoria
Strathmore, Victoria
Strathmore is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 11 km north-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Moonee Valley...
. The murder was witnessed by six children aged 6 and under.
Mark Mallia
Mark Mallia was an associate of murdered underworld criminal, Nik RadevNik Radev
Nikolai "The Russian" Radev was a Bulgarian refugee who became known as a career criminal in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
. At 8.05 am on 18 August 2003 a fire was reported in a stormwater drain 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:...
. Fire brigade members attending to the fire recovered a wheelie bin containing the remains of a charred body inside, later identified as Mallia.
Michael Marshall
Marshall was shot outside his luxury South Yarra home in front of his five-year-old son on 25 October 2003.Lewis Moran
Lewis Moran was shot dead in the inner-city BrunswickBrunswick, Victoria
Brunswick is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 6 km north from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Moreland...
Club on 31 March 2004. Williams pleaded guilty to his murder.
Arrest and confession
On 28 February 2007, Williams pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court of VictoriaSupreme Court of Victoria
The Supreme Court of Victoria is the superior court for the State of Victoria, Australia. It was founded in 1852, and is a superior court of common law and equity, with unlimited jurisdiction within the state...
to the murders of Lewis Moran
Lewis Moran
Lewis Moran was an Australian organized crime figure and patriarch of the infamous Moran family of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Notable for his involvement in the Melbourne gangland killings, Moran was shot dead in a Melbourne hotel The Brunswick Club in 2004...
, his son Jason Moran
Jason Moran
Jason Matthew Patrick Moran was an Australian criminal from Melbourne, Victoria, and one of the leaders of the Moran crime family, notable for its involvement in the Melbourne gangland killings. He sported a 12 cm scar on the side of his face.-Early life:Moran was the son of Lewis Moran and...
and Mark Mallia (whose name was initially suppressed by the court).
Williams also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to murder gangland rival Mario Condello
Mario Condello
Mario Condello was an Italian-Australian organized crime figure. Condello, once a lawyer, was a member of the Carlton Crew, who is believed to have been a money launderer for Melbourne's Calabrian mafia...
. A suppression order
Gag order
A gag order is an order, sometimes a legal order by a court or government, other times a private order by an employer or other institution, restricting information or comment from being made public.Gag orders are often used against participants involved in a lawsuit or criminal trial...
prevented the media from reporting this until the day of sentencing. Under a deal with police, Williams was not charged for his alleged involvement in orchestrating the murder of Mark Moran, Jason Moran's half brother.
It was also revealed that Williams was serving a sentence of 21 years for the 2003 murder of Michael Marshall. The outcome of this trial had previously been suppressed.
Summary of criminal convictions
| Date | |Sentence | |
|---|---|---|
| May, 1990 | Handling stolen goods Possession of stolen property Failing to answer bail |
Fined $400 |
| March, 1993 | Criminal damage Throwing a missile |
Sentenced to 150 hours community work |
| December, 1994 | Attempting to traffic in a drug of dependence | Sentenced to 12 months imprisonment (six months suspended for a period of two years) |
| 29 October 2004 | Drug trafficking | Sentenced to 7 years imprisonment |
| 19 July 2006 | Murder of Michael Marshall | Sentenced to 27 years imprisonment 21 years non-parole period |
| 7 May 2007 | Murder of Jason Moran Jason Moran Jason Matthew Patrick Moran was an Australian criminal from Melbourne, Victoria, and one of the leaders of the Moran crime family, notable for its involvement in the Melbourne gangland killings. He sported a 12 cm scar on the side of his face.-Early life:Moran was the son of Lewis Moran and... |
Sentenced to life imprisonment |
| 7 May 2007 | Murder of Mark Mallia | Sentenced to life imprisonment |
| 7 May 2007 | Murder of Lewis Moran Lewis Moran Lewis Moran was an Australian organized crime figure and patriarch of the infamous Moran family of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Notable for his involvement in the Melbourne gangland killings, Moran was shot dead in a Melbourne hotel The Brunswick Club in 2004... |
Sentenced to 25 years imprisonment |
| 7 May 2007 | Conspiracy to murder Mario Condello Mario Condello Mario Condello was an Italian-Australian organized crime figure. Condello, once a lawyer, was a member of the Carlton Crew, who is believed to have been a money launderer for Melbourne's Calabrian mafia... |
Sentenced to 25 years imprisonment |
School fees revelation
On 19 April 2010 News LimitedNews Limited
News Limited is one of Australia's largest diversified media companies. The publicly listed company's interests span newspaper and magazine publishing, Internet, Pay TV, National Rugby League, market research, DVD and film distribution, and film and television production trading assets.News Limited...
newspapers including the Herald Sun revealed that 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...
are paying $8000 in school fees for Williams' daughter. The reason for the payment was not revealed at the time. However, during the 2011 murder trial, it was revealed Williams had turned informant and had struck a deal with Assistant Commissioner Simon Overland. Williams gave information on several unsolved murder cases believed to have involved corrupt officers and it was also revealed his murderer may have been implicated in at least one. Williams' lawyer Rob Stary said Williams was upset about the publication of the story.
There was speculation that the police may have agreed to pay the school fees in exchange for information, and that publication of the story may have led to Williams' death. The Herald Sun has defended its publication of the story.
Death
On 19 April 2010, Williams died from head injuryHead injury
Head injury refers to trauma of the head. This may or may not include injury to the brain. However, the terms traumatic brain injury and head injury are often used interchangeably in medical literature....
while incarcerated at Barwon Prison. It is alleged that he was struck with part of an exercise bike by another inmate—Matthew Charles Johnson— who has since been charged with murder.
Williams' funeral was held on 30 April 2010 at St Therese's Catholic Church in Essendon
Essendon, Victoria
Essendon is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 10 km north-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Moonee Valley...
. In January 2011 it was reported that William's resting place had still not received a headstone and consisted of a nameless plot.