Carl Williams (Australian mob figure) murdered

[Stofsk]

Police pay $8000 private school fees for Carl Williams' daughter

* Police approve school fees payment
* Carl Williams' girl at exclusive primary
* Opposition MPs demand explanation

TAXPAYERS paid the private school fees for the daughter of multiple murderer, drug dealer and underworld figure Carl Williams.

The $8000 payment was made by Victoria Police command for Williams' child to attend a top private school.

A letter written by the Victorian Government Solicitor's Office, and signed by its managing principal solicitor in February, shows police admit they paid for Williams' daughter to attend the school.

The letter refers to "the payment of school fees for (Mr Williams') child in the amount of approximately $8000".

The prestigious school has several campuses, rolling sports fields and a country property for camps.

It boasts about its academic achievement.

Williams, who is serving a 35-year prison sentence for several murders, was a key player in Melbourne's brutal underworld war that claimed about 30 lives and took police more than a decade to bring under control.

The letter also shows that Victoria Police offered to pay a $750,000 debt owed to the tax office by George Williams, as first revealed by the Herald Sun in February.

That offer was withdrawn following legal advice.

The Herald Sun is unable, for legal reasons, to outline why the school fee payment was made.

Williams' former partner Roberta was tight-lipped.

"I've got no comment about that, but you have a great night," Ms Williams said.

The State Government and Victoria Police command refused to comment about the school payment.

Opposition crime prevention spokesman Andrew McIntosh said Premier John Brumby and Police Minister Bob Cameron should explain why Victorian taxpayers picked up the bill.

Crime Victims Support Association president Noel NcNamara said the school payment showed a disregard for Williams' victims.

"What's going on in there? They say the underworld looks after their own, but now it seems force command has taken the view we've got to look after them too," Mr McNamara said.

"It was bad enough when they took George and Carl on their little holiday down the coast. Are they going to pay the university fees as well?"

In sentencing Williams, Supreme Court judge Betty King said there were "no other appropriate penalties for crimes of this nature, gangland executions carried out ... in the presence of frightened men, women and children".

Justice King said she was concerned Williams could become a cult hero.

"You are a killer, and a cowardly one who employed others to do the actual killing," the judge said.

What the fuck.

[Alan Bolte]

Might have been part of a plea bargain, with silence also being a part. Seems rather expensive, but so is a trial.

[Stofsk]

Might have been part of a plea bargain, with silence also being a part. Seems rather expensive, but so is a trial.

Yeah, but in these circumstances, a plea bargain would be 'plead guilty and you get life with the possibility of parole, go to trial and you'll be found guilty and go to prison for life with no parole'.

Giving his kid $8K is a part of something else.

[Stofsk]

Well, looks like Carl's 35 year sentence has prematurely ended (link at the top will now take you to the new story).

Seems to be confirmed, though VicPol hasn't said the name of the inmate yet.

[thejester]

Saying it's part of a plea bargain doesn't really make sense as he essentially took one (had a murder charge for one of the Morans dropped and was promised a more lenient sentence), but the evidence he gave was such obvious bullshit that the judge ignored the deal (that, and he showed no remorse).

Will be very interesting to see why this is, especially with a state election looming - and the Brumby Government seems to have lost the confidence of the Police Association, so one of the two may see a political advantage in coughing up the details.

[weemadando]

Yeah, I was going to post that, but you beat me to it. Perhaps this was the final indication that he was still being of great use to the police in ongoing investigations ... and thus the final straw for someone.

[Stofsk]

Saying it's part of a plea bargain doesn't really make sense as he essentially took one (had a murder charge for one of the Morans dropped and was promised a more lenient sentence), but the evidence he gave was such obvious bullshit that the judge ignored the deal (that, and he showed no remorse).

Interesting. Can you elaborate on that? EDIT- the last part I mean. I'm interested in what about his evidence was obvious bullshit.

Will be very interesting to see why this is, especially with a state election looming - and the Brumby Government seems to have lost the confidence of the Police Association, so one of the two may see a political advantage in coughing up the details.

Well Carl's dead now. I have to wonder how such a thing could occur, since AFAIK he was in Acacia unit and that has near-constant surveillance.

[thejester]

Interesting. Can you elaborate on that? EDIT- the last part I mean. I'm interested in what about his evidence was obvious bullshit.

Turns out Justice King is prepared to call a spade a spade:

Williams, 36, had hoped for a minimum sentence of around 33 years in exchange for his guilty plea, so he would be released before his 70th birthday. But his evidence was so clearly bogus that any chance of that discount collapsed.

Purana taskforce police believe Justice King had no choice but to revise her sentence upwards by at least two years after he showed no signs of remorse.

...

In pre-trial discussions, Justice King told Williams' lawyers that if their client pleaded guilty his sentence would not be "crushing". At law, a guilty plea is rewarded with a discounted sentence, and that discount can be increased through the accused showing sincere regret.

When addressing Williams yesterday as she sentenced him to life with a minimum non-parole period of 35 years, she said: "I find that the evidence that you gave in the main was unbelievable, even incredible at times...I find that the manner in which you gave evidence was arrogant, almost supercilious and you left me with a strong impression that your view of these murders was that they were all really justifiable and you were the real victim.

Will be very interesting to see why this is, especially with a state election looming - and the Brumby Government seems to have lost the confidence of the Police Association, so one of the two may see a political advantage in coughing up the details.

Well Carl's dead now. I have to wonder how such a thing could occur, since AFAIK he was in Acacia unit and that has near-constant surveillance.[/quote]
Yeah, that's what his lawyer was saying. Apparently there were two other inmates in the exercise yard with him...

[Sea Skimmer]

8,000 Aussie dollars is nothing if it was part of a plea deal. A single day of courtroom trial would easily cost that much. It could also be related to ensuring security for the family if this guy was supposed to squeal on other people.

[Stofsk]

As much as I'd love to engage in conspiracy theorising, I think a likely story is that news of Carl's daughter receiving $8K from the police to go to a prestigious school was either read or heard on the morning news or someone talked to a friend of family member over the phone or something like that, and they later talked to Carl about it, the word 'dog' got thrown around, and before you know it, violence ensued.

On the other hand, this may either be a preventative measure in the event he was going to spill his beans, or retaliation for having already done so.

[Vympel]

Updated title.

[Dominus Atheos]

Updated title.

Um... was he killed? If so, maybe you should post an article about it instead of just stating it.

[Andrew J.]

I'll do it.

From Reuters via the New York times

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Australia's most notorious mobster, jailed over a string of gangland killings which captivated the country and left 30 people dead, was himself killed in a prison bashing on Monday, police said.

Carl Williams, a cherubic-faced underworld killer known widely in Australia as "Fat Boy," died after he suffered head injuries and went into cardiac arrest at Barwon Prison, south of Melbourne.

Williams, 39, had been serving a 35-year minimum jail term after pleading guilty in 2007 to the murder of three gangland rivals.

"Police believe an altercation occurred between Williams and another inmate. Homicide squad detectives are at the scene and are investigating the circumstances," a police statement said. Australians have for years been fascinated by the sordid drama involving Williams which played out on Melbourne streets for almost 10 years. The vicious underworld war was fodder for a hit local television series called "Underbelly."

In October 1999, drug-runners Jason and Mark Moran shot Williams in the stomach over a debt while they celebrated his 29th birthday.

Williams lived, but sought revenge through years of mayhem as rival gangs swapped brutal payback hits, often in public places. Williams made a fortune through the sale of drugs, using the money to eliminate rivals, often using hitmen.

Jason Moran and a bodyguard were shot dead by a contract killer sitting in Moran's van at a football club in June 2003. Moran's two children were also in the vehicle.

His brother Mark was shot dead arriving home in 2000.

Another well-known underworld figure, Mick Gatto, said he would not comment on the death of Williams, who had many enemies after payback wars stretching between 1995 and 2004, as he would "rather let dead dogs lie."

(Reporting by Rob Taylor; Editing by Ron Popeski)

[SCRawl]

Updated title.

Um... was he killed? If so, maybe you should post an article about it instead of just stating it.

Try clicking the first link in the OP. Stofsk referred to that a few posts in.

[tim31]

My doppleganger is dead.

I'm personally surprised it took this long; he rolled over on a lot of people, the case was highly public... Stofsk's take on it sounds most likely.

[Stofsk]

No royal commission for 'serial killer' Williams

Victorian Premier John Brumby has ruled out holding a royal commission into the death of Carl Williams, in part because of the gangland identity's history of violent crime.

Convicted killer Williams died after he was allegedly attacked by a fellow inmate in the high security Acacia unit of the Barwon Prison on Monday.

The State Opposition wants a royal commission amid concerns his death in prison may be related to police corruption.

Mr Brumby says there are already three separate investigations into Williams' death and there is no need for another.

"What occurred in the prison was obviously unacceptable, but the person concerned was a serial killer," he said.

"I think it would be quite unnecessary and quite an inappropriate use of taxpayers' money to have a royal commission."

Mr Brumby says the regular investigation by Victoria Police will be overseen by the Office of Police Integrity (OPI).

But Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu says there should be an independent, broad-based anti-corruption commission in Victoria.

"Something terribly wrong has gone on there where a high security prisoner, obviously under the surveillance that Mr Williams was under, can be brutally murdered in the middle of the highest security jail we have," he said.

"The OPI have signalled they will be engaged in oversighting the police investigation. But the OPI have not yet signalled why they've got involved and the only conclusion that Victorians can draw is that there's something else going on here."

Inquiry calls

The Brumby Government has steadfastly resisted calls for a royal commission into claims of police corruption.

The Government established the OPI to investigate police corruption in November 2004.

In recent months several high-profile OPI cases have collapsed, including the cases against former Police Union head Paul Mullett and Assistant Commissioner Noel Ashby.

Calls for a separate independent anti-corruption committee to be established have intensified ever since.

Williams' lawyer Rob Stary is backing calls for a royal commission and says the three separate investigations into Williams' death do not go far enough.

"Certainly there are no cohesive powers in any of those investigations that would compel people to answer questions and it will look at the individual circumstances surrounding this death," Mr Stary said.

"There will be a murder investigation, but that will only deal with the immediate circumstances surrounding Mr Williams' death. It won't look at the broader issues."

A man who was known to Williams faced Geelong Magistrates Court via video link from prison on Tuesday charged with one count of murder.

The 36-year-old lived in the same section of the prison's Acacia Unit for nine months.

He is charged with one count of murder and cannot be named for legal reasons.

Police reviewed CCTV footage before laying charges.

I so hope you get shit canned later this year, Brumby. For those of you who don't know, the OPI is a joke. It's like a defanged internal affairs bureau. Its most high profile case - alleged corruption on the part of a former assistant police commissioner and the police union secretary - fell apart.