Murder accused seeks place in lockdown

A VICTORIAN ice addict emblazoned with “white pride” tattoos and charged with the Father’s Day murder of a man is scared for his safety in jail.

Craig Leslie Williams, 30, is accused of shooting Joshua DiPietro, 31, in the head while he was in a car at Rosebud on September 3.

Wearing a makeshift sling to hold up a swollen left arm and a torn flannelette shirt, Mr Williams quivered as he sat in the dock of Melbourne Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

The court was told he was withdrawing from the drug ice as well as another substance and required medical attention for injuries sustained during his arrest.

Mr Williams is also concerned for his safety while in custody and wants to be put in lockdown, a concern confirmed by police, the court heard.

Tattoos that spelled out “white pride” across the underside of both of his arms were partly visible as he stood to acknowledge he understood that was not applying for bail and would be remanded.

Mr DiPietro, from Mt Waverley was shot while he was with a friend, after spending the day with his parents, police earlier alleged.

He died in hospital a day later.

Police went to speak with Mr Williams on the night of September 4 at a Rosebud house, but he instead holed himself up in a tent in the backyard until 6.30am the next day.

The siege ended when heavily armed police stormed the property and Mr Williams was bitten by a police dog.

As well Mr DiPietro’s murder, he is charged with reckless conduct endangering the life of three other men, named as Darren Williams, Ben Ingram and Hayden Swan in court documents, by discharging a firearm on September 3.

“R.I.P dip you were one of a kind mate you had a heart of gold and you were taken away from us way to early . . . will always remember the good time mate I no u will be up there looking out for us ... u won’t be forgotten mate,” Mr Ingram posted on Facebook on September 5.

Outside court, one of three supporters for Mr Williams told reporters: “Craig is ... a gentleman, he doesn’t deserve this and neither does his family, and neither does Josh’s family for that matter.”

Mr Williams will next appear in court on Wednesday.