How underworld drug lord backed a jailhouse killing

A prisoner who brutally killed an inmate falsely believed to be an informer had his legal fees paid by an underworld drug lord, secret police diary entries have revealed.

A secret police diary reveals a Mr Big drug lord paid the legal fees of an inmate accused of a brutal jailhouse killing.

The victim, Brian Edwards, was set upon within hours of being transferred to Barwon Prison in March 1998, in what investigators suspected was a well-planned ambush.

Two men – prisoners Nathan Berry and Stephen Wenitong – were charged and ultimately convicted over Edwards’ murder.

But the motive for stabbing Edwards as he settled in for his first night within the maximum security prison’s Cassia Unit remained murky.

The knife used to stab Edwards – a tall man who weighed 101kg – had been stolen from a prison guard console days before Edwards arrived at the jail.

Ligature marks consistent with being choked were found on Edwards’ neck.

John Higgs is led from the Supreme Court into a waiting prison van.

The 2006 police diary of former Purana taskforce Detective Inspector Jim O’Brien notes that

John Higgs – one of the nation’s most notorious drug criminals – was paying legal bills as Berry and Wenitong appealed their convictions.

“John Higgs is in Melbourne. Hanging around with Joe Manella – Higgs is paying Steven Wenitong on remand for murder he is paying the legal account,’’ the diary entry states.

“Murdered Edwards in Acacia with co-offender Nathan Berry. Ropes around neck and stabbed six times – Edwards was on remand for 1kg of amphetamine.’’

The diary notes were released as part of the Lawyer X Royal Commission.

Homicide squad detectives were to investigate whether Edwards was murdered by Wenitong and Berry as a favour to an older, more seasoned criminal.

That man had a long history of violence, firearms crime and dishonesty matters.

Police would later become aware that he had been spreading the word that Edwards was a police informer.

Purana taskforce Detective Inspector Jim O’Brien.

Investigators concluded Edwards had never turned informer but the deadly misinformation on the criminal grapevine had been enough to get him killed.

The circumstances of the case certainly made police ponder whether this was a well-planned hit.

An Appeal Court ruling stated: “The murder was a cold-blooded execution of another prisoner. Clearly, it was premeditated and involved planning”.

“The deceased (Edwards) had a ligature tied around his neck, no doubt to reduce his prospects of calling for help, and was stabbed six times with a knife, which had been stolen previously from prison staff.’’

Edwards was transferred from Port Phillip Prison to Barwon at 12.30pm on March 2. He was attacked within six hours. On February 26, just days before his arrival, the knife used to stab him was stolen from a prison officers’ console.

It was in this period before his arrival that he expressed concern about being attacked if sent to Barwon but he declined protection, possibly because this would reinforce any view that he was an informer.

Edwards was sent to the Cassia unit where the first sign of something unusual came at 6.20pm.

Underworld drug lord John Higgs.

A prisoner approached Edwards’ cell to offer him a cup of coffee but was intercepted by

Wenitong’s half-brother Ron Skelly, who said they needed to talk elsewhere.

Another prisoner playing table tennis heard a moan and saw two prisoners walk from Edwards’ cell, nodding to him as they passed.

Edwards then emerged, holding his hand to his bloodied neck, and staggered to the prison officers’ work station and indicated one person had attacked him.

He had been stabbed several times near the heart and bore a neck abrasion consistent with having been restrained heavily.

As he struggled to hold on to life, Edwards did not give any indication he was the kind of man who would be an informer. When asked who had attacked him, he responded with a succession of obscenities.

Berry was sentenced to 23 years in prison with a minimum of 17-years for Edwards’ murder and subsequently lost an appeal.

“The murder was a cold-blooded execution of another prisoner,’’ the Appeal Court said.

“Clearly it was premeditated and involved planning.’’

“The deceased had a ligature tied around his neck, no doubt to reduce his prospects of calling for help, and was stabbed six times with a knife which had been stolen previously from prison staff.’’