Gavin Preston: One of Melbourne’s most feared gangland figures applies for parole

The man who is known by the underworld nickname “Capable” has applied for parole having been in jail for a decade after being convicted of defensive homicide.

Gavin Preston arriving at the Supreme Court for the beginning of his murder trial on Monday, May 18, 2015, in Melbourne, Australia. Picture: Hamish Blair

One of Melbourne’s most feared gangland figures, Gavin Preston, has applied for parole.

Preston has written to the Adult Parole Board asking to be considered for early release, most likely some time this year.

The man who is known by the underworld nickname “Capable” has been in jail since 2012 when he was arrested for the murder of drug dealer Adam Khoury at North Melbourne.

Preston was ultimately convicted of defensive homicide after saying Khoury had tried to kill him at his Canning St apartment.

He claimed he had gone to the apartment to discuss threats being made by Khoury associate and career criminal Chris Binse.

Preston’s maximum term over the Khoury killing and a separate non-fatal shooting of a drug dealer in Sunshine expires in April next year.

Chris Bines has served 28 of the past 32 years in some form of detention.

The Sunday Herald Sun has been told that Preston has been recruited by the Comanchero outlaw motorcycle club while behind bars, a claim the inmate has previously denied.

Community corrections authorities will in coming months present the APB with material on Preston to help them make their decision.

Safety of the community is the key consideration but granting of parole is generally the preferred option so prisoners can be monitored and subject to conditions as they reintegrate into society.

Such controls cannot be placed on those who serve their maximum term.

A spokesman for the Adult Parole Board said the organisation could not comment.

Preston was in the past investigated over a failed 2011 hit on bikie strongman Toby Mitchell outside the Bandidos OMCG clubhouse in Weston St, Brunswick

In the same period, he and northern suburbs triggerman Nabil Maghnie, who has since been shot dead, were arrested outside the Melbourne Town Hall.

One theory is that they were en route through the CBD to murder Carlton Crew

figure Mick Gatto at a restaurant.

Preston has denied involvement in either matter.

Gavin Preston with fellow prison inmate.

In any case, Preston was never charged so they would not come into the APB’s calculations when working out whether he should be granted parole.

It is believed Preston has not caused a great deal of trouble for prison authorities but he has been on the wrong end of drama from others.

In 2014, he was jumped by six other inmates and viciously stabbed and slashed.

Footage of that incident was later posted online with a Prisoners of War stamp.

PoW are a violent jail gang which Preston helped found but got out in later years after a falling-out with another of its leaders, Matthew Charles Johnson.

When Preston is ultimately released from jail it will be noted among some of Melbourne’s heaviest underworld figures, particularly Mitchell.

Preston will also come under strong consideration for a firearms prohibition order (FPO).

If served with an FPO, police will have the power to search Preston without a warrant to ascertain if he is in possession of a gun or related item.

Under the order, police can search a subjects address, packages and other items he owns. It also bans the subject from entering a variety of venues where guns are used or stored such as shooting ranges.