CARL’S FINAL HOLIDAY SHOT
Drug lord Carl Williams brought his gangland mates to the Gold Coast in early 2004. It would be his last summer break as his underworld life was about to turn sour.
THE Gold Coast has long been a sunny place for shady people, according to the infamous quote.
The city’s underworld came under the spotlight in the late 1980s as the revelations of the Fitzgerald Inquiry laid bare what was going on beneath the Glitter Strip’s surface.
But it has also been a popular holiday destination for other people of questionable reputation who come up for sun, sand and surf.
This year marks 10 years since the death of Melbourne drug lord Carl Williams who was murdered inside Victoria’s Barwon Prison by fellow prisoners.
Williams had been in custody for more than six years at that point and enjoyed his last holiday on the Gold Coast in early 2004, just months before his June 2004 arrest.
Williams was at the epicentre of a bloody 12-year gangland war that claimed more than 36 lives between 1998 and 2010.
But back in January 2004 the heat was on for Williams and it wasn’t just the summer temperatures.
He was coming off the back of a busy year in the gangland war.
In 2003, several major figures met their end, including Nik “The Russian” Radev, Jason Moran, Pasquale Barbaro and Graham “The Munster” Kinniburgh.
Williams himself was arrested in November that year and charged with making threats to the partner of a police officer investigating him.
Following the Christmas period, Williams and friends decided to go for a getaway and picked the Gold Coast.
Williams flew in with his then-right-hand man Andrew “Benji” Veniamin.
Just days later, Williams’ wife Roberta arrived with their then-three-year-old daughter.
Spotted by the Bulletin at Gold Coast Airport, she declined to comment.
Five days later, Williams and Veniamin were photographed having fun in the sun on Surfers Paradise beach.
The group stayed in a $310a-night room at the Outrigger Sun City Resort for a fortnight after a magistrate altered his bail conditions, allowing him to travel.
Along with another couple they enjoyed beach outings and late afternoons by the exotic pool setting while sipping tall cocktails.
Fellow gangland figure Tony Mokbel was on the Gold Coast at the same time. This fun holiday away proved to be the last for the group.
Mick Gatto shot Veniamin dead during an affray at Carlton
restaurant La Porcella in March 2004.
Gatto was found not guilty of murder, claiming he acted in self-defence after Veniamin pulled a gun on him.
Williams was arrested on June 9, 2004, for conspiracy to commit murder before a hit could be carried out on gangland lawyer Mario Condello.
In his day at court, Williams would receive two life sentences and a series of other long prison stints for the murders of fellow gangland figures Jason Moran, Lewis Moran, Mark Mallia and Michael Marshall, and conspiracy to murder Condello.
Condello would be shot dead in his driveway in early 2006, before he was to stand trial for incitement to murder three men, one of them Carl Williams.