Andrew Veniamin
| Andrew Veniamin | |
|---|---|
| Born |
16 November 1975 Footscray, Victoria, Australia |
| Died | 23 March 2004 (aged 28) Carlton, Victoria, Australia |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Other names | Benji |
| Children | 1 |
| Conviction(s) | Theft, assault |
Andrew "Benji" Veniamin (16 November 1975 – 23 March 2004) was an Australian criminal from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. A convicted car thief, Veniamin is recognised as being a key figure in the Melbourne underworld killings, suspected of both murdering seven underworld figures, and being a hit-man for the Williams crime family. Veniamin was killed by Domenic "Mick" Gatto at La Porcella restaurant in Carlton in self-defence following a heated argument.
Veniamin was born to Greek Cypriot immigrant parents, and was raised in the Western Melbourne suburb of Sunshine. From a child to his early teens, Veniamin was an altar boy at the Greek Orthodox Church in the neighbouring suburb of Sunshine West, where his funeral would later be held.
Veniamin worked at the West Melbourne wholesale fruit and vegetable market. Shortly before his death, Veniamin fathered a daughter as the result of a casual affair.
He was also a known associate of Dino Dibra who was murdered at his home in October 2000, and of Paul Kallipolitis, who was shot in similar circumstances two years later. Victoria Police say Veniamin was one of the most dangerous and feared men connected to Melbourne's crime scene, and by the time of his death in 2004 they had connected him with several of Melbourne's underworld murders.
Veniamin met with Nik Radev on 15 April 2003, the day Radev was murdered in Coburg. Veniamin associated with an underworld group known as The Carlton Crew and after 2003 was connected with the Williams Family, and was a close friend of Carl Williams.
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