Carl Williams father George Williams dies after suffering a heart attack

GANGLAND figure George Williams, father of slain drug kingpin and convicted murderer Carl Williams, died this morning after suffering a heart attack. LATEST

CARL Williams’ father, George, has died after suffering a heart attack.

Williams, understood to be 69, had been on life support surrounded by family in hospital after having a heart attack.

He was just days shy of his birthday.

It is believed Williams, a key figure in Melbourne’s gangland war, was setting up a television set when he collapsed in his Broadmeadows home where he has lived with his partner, Kath.

He was taken to hospital by ambulance after paramedics worked on him in his home but he could not be revived.

Williams’ last years of life were spent battling the Australian Taxation Office which had ordered him to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid tax.

George Williams leaving the home of Roberta Williams. Picture: Tony Gough

George Williams leaves the Coroner’s Court deciding whether or not an inquest would be held into the death of his son, Carl. Photo: Ellen Smith

George Williams (centre) walks with police to the County Court during the murder trial of Carl.

George Williams at his son’s funeral.

George (far right). Carl Williams’ funeral at St Therese's church, Essendon.

George (far left) walks behind his son’s golden gasket.

George Williams leaves court following his son’s sentencing.

Carl and George Williams leave Melbourne Magistrates’ Court in 2004.

Carl and George outside the County Court in 2004.

He was hit with a $700,000 bill before his son was killed in jail in 2010.

The waiving of the tax bill formed part of a deal Carl Williams negotiated with Victoria Police in return for giving Crown evidence in a major murder trial over the shooting deaths of Terrence and Christine Hodson.

The deal, however, fell through.

Williams spent time with his son in prison after his arrest in December 2004 and subsequent conviction in 2007 for drug trafficking but was released the year before his son’s death in 2010.

He was denied compensation by the Victorian Government over the psychological damage he claimed he suffered over the jailhouse killing.

Last year Williams was resolute he would not leave his house in Katandra Crescent, where he and former wife Barb raised their two children, Shane and Carl, during a series of firebombing attacks aimed against the Williams’s in which his property was targeted.