Yeah, I enjoyed Chopper. It was funny watching it because as I live in Melbourne, I've actually been to some of the places shown in the film (eg Bojanggles Club in St. Kilda), and live in the same suburb (Doncaster) as the character Neville Bartos. It's worth watching De.
Yesterday afternoon, another hit happened, at a restaurant in Carlton, just 500 metres from where I was at the time. All hell will probably break loose soon. And the killer lives near me ie, East Doncaster.
Underworld bracing for further killings Melbourne's key underworld players are bracing themselves for the next slaying after the city's very public gangland war escalated on Tuesday with the murder of accused hitman Andrew Veniamin.
Victoria Police assistant commissioner Simon Overland said he was not surprised Veniamin, 28, was gunned down in a popular inner-city restaurant and said his close friend, accused drug baron Carl Williams could be next.
Veniamin, who was not under police surveillance at the time of his murder, himself believed it was coming and told detectives not to bother investigating his death if he was murdered, Mr Overland said.
Mr Williams, who had spent part of the day with Veniamin on Tuesday, could be the next underworld figure killed, Mr Overland said.
Detectives want to speak to him in relation to Melbourne's 22 gangland murders.
"We have fears for Mr Williams' safety," Mr Overland said.
"There has been a lot of media speculation about these matters in general and he moves or does appear to move in the circles in which these murders are occurring, and he and a number of other people are at risk."
Mr Overland said Purana taskforce members were bracing themselves for more hits.
"We hope there aren't any more murders, but what we are hoping for is an outbreak of common sense from the underworld.
"He (Mr Williams) is someone we want to talk to ... but he is generally unco-operative," he said.
Mr Williams would be offered police protection if he wanted it, Mr Overland said.
Veniamin, a suspected hitman from West Sunshine was shot dead in La Porcella restaurant in Carlton at 2.45pm (AEDT) in front of diners.
"We have had a number of conversations with Andrew Veniamin and he was a person of interest to us," Mr Overland said.
"Last year he actually indicated to us that in his view, if he was murdered, we shouldn't even bother investigating that.
"He was not co-operative and that was the case throughout.
"In some ways it (this murder) complicates an already complex situation that we are trying to deal with."
The Purana taskforce, which was set up in May last year to investigate Melbourne's underworld murders, remained on full alert.
"We are a lot closer than we were in May, but this is not an easy task and it's not something that will be resolved quickly ... but we are making some progress," Mr Overland said.
"I do believe we will be successful in the long run.
Dominic "Mick" Gatto, 48, of Longstaff Court, Doncaster East, on Wednesday appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court charged with Veniamin's murder.
Gatto's lawyer George Defteros told the court he anticipated an application for bail would be made to the Supreme Court "in due course".
Gatto was remanded in custody to reappear in the same court on July 14.
Among those unable to get into the courtroom was Roberta Williams, wife of alleged drug lord Carl Williams.
Veniamin was Williams' constant close companion and bodyguard.
Mr and Mrs Williams were at the murder scene about an hour after Tuesday's shooting.
Gatto was expressionless through the hearing but waved to a friend as he got up to leave.
Mr Defteros asked Gatto to be moved from the custody centre to Melbourne Assessment Prison "to allow proper consultation to take place".
Speaking outside court, Mr Defteros confirmed Gatto would apply for bail.
"We'll be applying for bail in the Supreme Court in due course but it was only a short filing hearing (on Wednesday)," he told reporters.
"There really is nothing more to say at this stage."
