Man charged with murdering gangland figure Graham Kinniburgh

A FORMER associate of Carl Williams has been charged with the murder 12 years ago of gangland figure Graham Kinniburgh.

13/12/2003 PIRATE: 13/12/2003. Copy photo of Graham Kinniburgh. Press conference on Kew Gangland killings.

A FORMER associate of Carl Williams has been charged with the murder 12 years ago of gangland figure Graham Kinniburgh.

Stephen John Asling, 55, faced Melbourne Magistrates’ Court charged with killing Kinniburgh in another deadly ­episode of Melbourne’s under­world war.

The 62-year-old grandfather was gunned down in December 2003 in Kew outside his Belmont Ave house as he got out of his car late at night.

The Herald Sun understands a parallel investigation into the suspected murder of Terrence Blewitt, an associate of Mr Asling, remains ­active.

Mr Blewitt, who disappeared from Melton in April 2004 was a person of interest in the murder of Kinniburgh.

Mr Asling has been under scrutiny over the Kinniburgh murder since the earliest ­stages of the inquiry.

Kinniburgh was gunned down outside his home in Belmont Ave, Kew.

Kinniburgh, right, with Mario Condello, who was murdered in 2006.

Kinniburgh outside the inquest into the murder of Alphonse Gangitano in 2002.

Police initially made a court application to question Mr Asling on Wednesday but his legal team signalled they would challenge this.

He was then charged.

The Kinniburgh investigation leapt back into prominence in July 2013 when police seized a Hyundai car they said was linked to his death and the disappearance of Mr Blewitt.

Police searched for Mr Blewitt’s body on a remote Yarrawonga property but found no trace of him.

Kinniburgh, a close friend of Mick Gatto, was one of the most respected figures in Melbourne’s underworld.

His murder led to a ­famously tense meeting at Crown casino between Mr Gatto, Williams and hitman Andrew Veniamin 11 days later.

Mr Gatto was to shoot dead Veniamin at a Carlton restaurant. A Supreme Court jury later ruled he had acted in self-defence.

A number of Kinniburgh associates also fell victim to shooting ambushes during the gangland wars.

He had visited Alphonse Gangitano the night he was shot dead in the laundry of his Templestowe home in 1998.

Kinniburgh was a close friend of Lewis Moran, murdered at the Brunswick Club in 2004, and Moran’s sons, Mark and Jason, also shot dead in the period of conflict.

The Morans all died as a result of a sustained quest by Williams to wipe out the ­family.

Slain lawyer Mario Condello was another Kinniburgh mate.

Victoria Police said the charges were the result of a complex and protracted ­inquiry.

“Task Force Purana ­detectives are committed to the investigation of organised crime and have worked tirelessly over the past 12 years to ensure today’s result,” a statement from the force said.

Mr Asling will face court again on January 27 next year for a committal mention.