Melbourne gang war fears after crime boss shooting

CANBERRA - The murder of Melbourne crime czar Mario Condello has triggered fears of a renewal of the city's gang war that killed 27 men in six bloody years.

Condello, 53, was gunned down in the driveway of his A$1.2 million Brighton home on Monday night, on the eve of a Victorian Supreme Court trial on charges of conspiring to kill underworld rivals.

The former lawyer and leader of Melbourne's notorious "Carlton Crew" had himself narrowly escaped assassination two years ago in the tit-for-tat killings that shocked the nation.

His death ended a two-year pause in the war for control of the Melbourne underworld, and raised questions over the safety of fellow crime boss and close Condello friend Mick Gatto. Condello took the leadership of the Carlton Crew when Gatto was in custody charged with the murder of Andrew Veniamin, a hitman for his underworld rivals. Gatto was later acquitted.

Although police have no evidence yet that Condello's murder signalled a renewal of the war, Acting Deputy Commissioner Simon Overland said the threat remained. "It does increase the risk of the gangland wars re-igniting. We have spoken to [Gatto]. It seems he is at risk and possibly is at greater risk as a consequence of what's happened."

Condello died shortly before 10pm outside his heavily fortified home. His wife and two children were near the house when gunshots woke the affluent street. Neighbour Clarisse Sng told AAP the shots were followed by a woman's screams. "All available resources will be brought on to this job," Overland said. "We will leave no stone unturned to find the people responsible for this latest murder."

At the heart of the investigation will be the Purana Task Force, the gangland-busting unit that for years had Condello in its sights.

Born in Calabria, Italy, Condello had worked as a lawyer but had a circle of friends and associates that included Gatto and other major crime figures, including Alphonse Gangitano - one of the biggest underworld players whose slaying in 1998 sparked the gang war - and George Defteros, another lawyer later jointly charged with Condello on conspiracy to murder charges. The Defteros charges were dropped, but the case against Condello were due for legal argument yesterday and jury selection today.

His lawyer Robert Richter told the court: "Unfortunately, I announce my client won't be answering bail, he was murdered last night. He died confident of his acquittal."

Condello's public facade of respectability collapsed after he was jailed on charges including narcotics trafficking, conspiracy and fraud, after using syndicate connections to destroy art worth A$1.4 million in Italy in a failed insurance scam.

During early hearings on the murder conspiracy charges, police said Condello was involved not only in organised crime within Australia, but was associated with the Calabrian Ndrangheta organisation, which also has criminal links throughout Europe and North America.

In Melbourne, Condello's reputation as a feared mobster was matched by his image as a high roller, with all the perks granted big players at Melbourne's Crown Casino.

The Herald Sun reported that Condello was on a secret list of the casino's biggest gamblers, punting at least A$7.5 million a year and provided with free flights, valet parking, accommodation, concert and sports tickets.

But he was also on another list, drawn up by the Victorian police to ban major gangland figures from the state's major gambling venues. Others included Gatto and drug king Tony Mokbel, another prime Purana target.

Two years ago Condello almost fell victim to his rivals. Two men armed with guns were arrested outside a cemetery on their way to Gatto's home, with the intent to kill him. Four men, including rival boss Carl Williams, were arrested and charged with conspiracy to murder.

As Williams was plotting to kill him, Condello was hiring a hitman to kill Williams and a number of associates for A$50,000 down and A$150,000 a kill. Unfortunately for Condello, the hitman had turned informer and was wired when the deal was struck, with police taping the conversation.

On Monday night, Condello's time ran out.

- additional reporting AAP