Cops, crims united on Roberta Williams’ ‘complaining’

There’s not much detectives and crooks agree on, but these two found common ground on Roberta Williams’ relentless griping.

Roberta Williams united cops and criminals in a unique way.

There was not much that the Purana detectives and the criminals they were seeking to bring down agreed on, but one thing was Roberta Williams’ complaining.

Statements from the getaway driver involved in at least two hits reveal how eager he was to deflect attention on to his supposed gangland mates, once he had started talking, as well as an interesting exchange involving Roberta.

The driver, who cannot be named and has been given the pseudonym Shifty McGrath, had been arrested in October 2003 just hours after he and a shooter known as The Runner had

executed drug-dealing hot dog vendor Michael Marshall outside his South Yarra home.

His revelations to police were detailed later in court proceedings.

In one conversation, McGrath claimed he could “find out things” aboutt gangland boss Carl Williams, while alleging The Runner was much closer to “that person’’ and was with him 24 hours a day, like a bodyguard.

Williams had no idea she was calling Bateson as he interviewed the killer who would flip on her husband. Picture: Brett Costello

He had previously flagged he could divulge information on Williams by drawing the ­initials “CW” on a table.

After McGrath had repeatedly refused to give CW’s full name, Sergeant Stuart Bateson eventually responded: “We know his name, it’s Carl Williams’’.

Lying that he knew “nothing” of Williams’ rival Jason Moran’s death, McGrath again pointed the finger at Williams, saying: “I know that, ah, that person didn’t like him very much and probably there was a number of people who wanted him dead, him included’’.

McGrath was also eager to nominate “That Andrew bloke’’ (Williams’ closest ally Andrew “Benji” Veniamin) for the killing of Nik “The Bulgarian’’ Radev in April 2003.

He guessed that Marshall was killed because he owed Williams money.

As McGrath’s tongue loosened, the conversation was interrupted by a call to Sergeant Bateson from Roberta.

Stuart Bateson spent years investigating Melbourne’s gangland war. Picture: Jay Town

“Yes, Roberta, can you ring back in half an hour? I’m just tied up at the moment. About half an hour, Roberta. Thanks, bye,’’ Sergeant Bateson said.

“She rings me from time to time – usually to complain about something or other,’’ he then explained to McGrath.

“Yeah, she’s good at that,’’ McGrath agreed.

McGrath then claimed to have helped Williams’ wife Roberta set up a baby clothes business.

The detective inquired whether she knew much about “Carl’s business’’.

“Oh, a little, not a huge amount. She would like to see the last of Jason Moran’s wife,’’ McGrath said.

McGrath even offered tips on the best way to set up a sting on Carl Williams.

Then McGrath suggested he could trap Williams moving “pounds of speed”, keep his “eyes and ears open’’ and do some “wheeling and dealing” and then ­report it all back to them.

Detective Senior Constable Boris Buick gave him a reality check, saying: “You’re on ­remand for murder.’’