Vic: Court grants application to interview Williams over hit

AAP General News (Australia)
04-01-2004
Vic: Court grants application to interview Williams over hit

Accused drug trafficker CARL WILLIAMS will be forced to answer questions over the murder
of his bodyguard in court after Victorian police were today granted permission to question
him.

Mr WILLIAMS' bodyguard and alleged hit-man ANDREW VENIAMIN was shot at La Porcella restaurant i



The application by the Purana Taskforce investigating Melbourne's underworld murders
was granted nine days after Andrew "Benji" Veniamin - an alleged hit-man and Williams'
constant companion - was shot at La Porcella restaurant in Carlton.

Dominic "Mick" Gatto, 48, of East Doncaster, had been charged with Veniamin's murder.

Detective Acting Sargeant Boris Buick today told the Melbourne Magistrates Court Williams
twice refused to give police a statement over Veniamin's death.

Det Sgt Buick said he wanted to ask Williams whether Gatto contacted Veniamin to arrange
a meeting before the shooting.

He also wanted to ask about Veniamin's movements before his death, what he was wearing
and carrying.

Magistrate Peter Couzens ruled it was appropriate to grant the application even though
Gatto had not been made aware of it.

Williams, who is on bail on charges of trafficking amphetamines and threatening to
kill a detective and his girlfriend, is a suspect in several of the murders being investigated
by Purana detectives.

Det Sgt Buick stressed Williams was not a suspect in Veniamin's shooting.

The date when Williams will be forced to take the stand and answer questions about
his friend's death is yet to be set.

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KEYWORD: GATTO (MELBOURNE)

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