Tony Mokbel’s accused jailhouse attackers revealed
The two inmates accused of trying to kill drug lord Tony Mokbel as he walked back to his Barwon prison cell have been revealed, as the men prepare to face court on attempted murder charges.
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The two inmates accused of trying to kill drug lord Tony Mokbel have been revealed.
Teira Bennett and Eldea Teuira, both aged 21, have been named as the men accused of viciously attacking the kingpin following a 21st birthday celebration at Barwon Prison on Monday.
The men will face Geelong Magistrates’ Court tomorrow on attempted murder charges.
They also face counts of intentionally causing serious injuries and causing serious injury intentionally in terms of gross violence.
Earlier the Herald Sun revealed Mokbel is believed to have met a lawyer shortly before being beaten and stabbed in an alleged jailhouse ambush.
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Facebook posts seen by the Herald Sun show Bennett celebrated his birthday the day of the brutal jailhouse ambush.
A post from a friend reads: “Happy birthday darlin, hope you’re have an awesome day! I wish all the best for you! And I’ll see you soon! Love you lots xxxx.”
His aunty, Alexandra Bennett, also wished him a happy birthday.
Mokbel was left fighting for life after being beaten and stabbed with a shiv as the daily 4pm lockdown loomed.
His condition improved yesterday, where he was listed as being in a serious condition at the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
It is understood Mokbel was confronted by a group of Pacific Islander inmates who were hosting a birthday bash with pavlova and fizzy drinks.
He was repeatedly stabbed and stomped on.
Fellow inmate, Steven Logan, 31, was also attacked.
Bennett and Teuira have returned to Barwon and are being kept in separate units.
As authorities tried to head off revenge attacks, Mokbel’s condition was on Wednesday night improving. He has been treated at Royal Melbourne Hospital for severe injuries he suffered on Monday afternoon at Barwon Prison.
The Herald Sun has been told Mokbel met the solicitor in a visitor area and was on his way back to his cell as the daily 4pm lockdown loomed.
Mokbel, who was arrested while living as a fugitive in Greece in 2006, was sentenced in 2012 to 30 years in jail for serious drug-trafficking crimes.
But he and other high-level criminals have been recently eyeing freedom because of the Lawyer X scandal.
One source said he was confronted by a group of men gathered for a 21st birthday celebration and was allegedly attacked by two of them. The incident is being treated as the result of a plot to kill Mokbel.
Two 21-year-old men, of Pacific Islander background, have been charged with attempted murder by armed crime squad detectives.
They also face counts of intentionally causing serious injury and causing serious injury intentionally in terms of gross violence.
The pair will appear in Geelong Magistrates’ Court tomorrow.
Investigators are trying to establish if those men were incited to attack Mokbel, who was stabbed and stomped on.
There are indications of a degree of planning in the brutal onslaught inflicted on Mokbel, 53, in the maximum security jail’s Diosma unit.
A 31-year-old man who tried to help Mokbel was also allegedly assaulted and treated for minor injuries, but is now back at Barwon.
Mokbel’s condition improved yesterday, with a spokeswoman for the Royal Melbourne Hospital saying it had changed from critical to serious.
Corrections Victoria staff will wait for the police investigation to wrap up before beginning their detailed investigation.
The prison remained in partial lockdown last night.
While detectives have interviewed several inmates to try and find out if more charges should be placed, Corrections Victoria staff have been focused on preventing more violence.
In the last two days, they have been ensuring that inmates who may present a risk of carrying out reprisal attacks are separated from any potential targets.
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