The mistaken belief that led gangland killer Andrew Veniamin to execute a friend

Underworld hit man Andrew ‘Benji’ Veniamin executed a trusting mate because he thought he’d been betrayed. He hadn’t. Here’s how the hit played out.

Andrew Veniamin’s hit on his friend Paul Kallipolitis followed fears his mate had left a letter with a lawyer, which was to be opened if he was killed. Picture: News Corp

Hit man Andrew Veniamin murdered a mate partly because he feared a letter implicating him in the shooting death of underworld wild man Dino Dibra.

It can be revealed a gangland witness later told police that Veniamin believed his friend Paul Kallipolitis had left a letter with a solicitor, which was to be opened if he was killed.

Veniamin thought it may implicate him in the October 2000 murder of their mutual friend, Dino Dibra, a gunman and fellow member of the Sunshine Crew.

But the Kallipolitis letter made no such claim.

“Not knowing the actual content of the letter, however, Veniamin’s concerns about the deceased’s (Kallipolitis’) capacity to implicate him in the (Dibra) murder escalated,” prosecution documents say.

There are suspicions Veniamin was also motivated by money and that the murder was part contract killing.

Both he and Kallipolitis had been arrested and released without charge over the Dibra murder two years earlier.

It is almost two decades since Kallipolitis – a drug dealer, kickboxer and standover man – was shot execution-style inside his Sunshine West home in October, 2002.

Dino Dibra was shot dead outside his Sunshine West home in October 2000. Picture: Supplied

Veniamin attended Dibra’s funeral but there was a strong belief from early on that he was the culprit.

They had been mates and criminal co-offenders since their teenage years but had fallen out badly towards the end.

The Kallipolitis letter was dated May 28 and came in a period of tension and hair-raising incidents.

“The deceased’s family and friends will say that he was concerned for his safety to the point of paranoia by the time of his murder,” the prosecution documents said.

“He would not open the front door to anyone but those he knew and believed he could trust. He told police in his record of interview of 13 May 2002 that his life was in danger and that he would guard his home.”

Kallipolitis, a convicted killer, was to become involved in a bitter dispute with another man over money and had declared “war” on him.

A text message sent to that man in September showed the depth of his rage.

Paul Kallipolitis and Andrew Veniamin were friends, but Veniamin mistakenly believed his mate had left a letter implicating him in the killing of Dino Dibra. Picture: Supplied

“U think I’m a f*cking idiot Hay C... U want to play with my life. Let’s ploy, OK. F*ck you and all the rest of who u think u know,” one SMS said.

Weeks before his murder, a man in a balaclava and brandishing a handgun entered the property of Kallipolitis and menaced a woman who had just pulled up in her car.

A witness would later tell police Veniamin had admitted to being that man.

The prosecution material alleged that on October 12, Veniamin and an accomplice travelled to the home of Kallipolis using a Honda car stolen the previous day from South Yarra.

“They gained entry under the pretence of friendship,” it was alleged.

“There, Veniamin shot the deceased five times with a .38/357 handgun. There was no sign of forced entry, no sign of any struggle and no sign of any ransacking or theft.

“The deceased must have known and trusted the murderers. In the circumstances, it can be inferred the murder was a deliberate execution.”

Andrew Veniamin was not charged over any of the murders he is alleged to have committed during Melbourne’s era of gangland carnage. Picture: Supplied

The prosecution summary containing the letter evidence related to the case against an alleged co-offender in the Kallipolitis matter.

The charge against him was later discontinued.

Veniamin – a prime target of the Purana task force – was not charged over any of the murders he is alleged to have committed during Melbourne’s era of gangland carnage.

In 2004, he was shot dead at the back of a Carlton restaurant by Mick Gatto.

A Supreme Court jury later acquitted Gatto of the killing on the basis of self-defence.

Andrew Veniamin (left) and Carl Williams leave court in 2004, just hours before Veniamin was shot dead in a Carlton restaurant. Picture: Channel 7 News.

THE SUNSHINE CREW

DINO Dibra: Violent extrovert who once told a reporter he had watched Reservoir Dogs too many times. Was involved in shootings, kidnappings, drug dealing, stand over work, vehicle crime and plenty more from his teenage years. Had already survived one shooting before he was murdered at his Krambruk Rd, West Sunshine, home in October, 2000.

ANDREW Veniamin: Ruthless trigger man responsible for more deaths than anyone during the gangland war period. Was mates for years with both Dibra and Kallipolitis but is suspected of murdering both. “You could always get that sense of nastiness with Veniamin,” a Detective remarked.

PAUL Kallipolitis: Drug dealer and standover man who did prison time for the 1994 shooting death of wrestler Mark Anthony Walker. He and Veniamin were questioned but not charged over the Dibra murder. Kickboxer who was facing an affray charge over incident in Footscray at the time of his 2002 murder.

Carl Williams (right) with Andrew "Benji" Veniamin acting as his bodyguard. Picture: News Corp