Another Life Taken at Notorious St Kilda Hotel

Crime:  Murder
Occurred:  28 February 2011
Sentenced:  1 July 2011
Where: Gatwick Hotel, 34 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda
Convicted:  Neville John Morrison
Victim:  David Alexander Rodakis

What happened?
On 14 February 2010 (Valentines Day), Neville and his friend Robert Chaffey attended the St Kilda Festival.  They each drank a copious amount of cask wine during the day and into the night (Neville estimated 14 litres in total) at the Gatwick Hotel, where Robert had been living for the last three days. During the early hours of the next morning, Robert drunkenly decided that David Rodakis, another guest of the hotel, was a paedophille. Neville and Robert waited by David's hotel room.  At a bit past 5am, when David tried to enter his room, Robert and Neville attacked him in the hallway while it was recorded on CCTV.  The two men punched and kicked David in the head numerous times to the point where he lay lifeless on the ground.  Neville left the body and returned several times to continue his savage attack, stomping on David's head no less than 20 times.  When David was found he was taken to hospital and placed in an induced coma.  His brain injuries were so bad that his doctors believed he was in a vegetative state and there would be no chance of recovery.  He died thirteen days later of pneumonia.



Victim's background
David was 66 years old when he was killed.  He was an alcoholic who had lived at the Gatwick Hotel for years and never caused anyone any trouble.  He left behind a son who he hadn't seen since he was a baby.  In his victim impact statement, the son expressed sorrow that he never got to know his father before his death.

Convicted's background
Neville was 50 at the time of sentencing.  Born and raised in Australia, his parents were invalid pensioners and he was one of eight children.  He attended Footscray Tech until Year 9 and travelled the country busking, also working as a forklift driver and laborer but never holding down long term work due to his alcoholism.  His marriage (within which he had a son) ended in 2007 due to his drinking problem.  From this point he began living in his car until his brother offered to share his flat.  He had a prior criminal history that included car theft, drink driving, assault and receiving Centrelink payments when not entitled.


The Gatwick Hotel's background
The Gatwick Hotel is a hell-hole that has been the site of four violent deaths over the last six years.  You can read an interesting article about it here.


Outcome of trial: Neville pleaded guilty to murder and therefore a trial was not required.  In sentencing, the judge noted that his sentence was discounted three years in recognition of saving the family and community the pain and costs of a trial.

Sentence:  15 years before eligible for parole (19 years max). Approximately a year and a half of the sentence has already been served in remand. Neville's partner in crime is awaiting sentencing.

You can read the judgement here.  Media coverage is available here and here.

Brothers Assassinate Bikie Gang Member

Crime: Murder and manslaughter
Occurred:  23 October 2008
Sentenced:  23 March 2011
Where: Bandidos' Clubhouse, Leather Street, Geelong
Convicted: John Bedson (murder) and Derek Bedson (manslaughter)
Victim:  Ross Brand

What happened?
On Geelong Cup Day (22 October), a fight broke out between a nominee of the Bandidos Motorcycle Club and a member of the Death Before Dishonour club (a youth group allied with the Rebels).  John Bedson and his half brother, Derek Bedson, wanted to avenge the Death Before Dishonour member who had been assaulted.  They drove out to the Bandidos' Geelong club house with a .22 semiautomatic rifle.  Ross Brand and several associates came outside to see what was going on.  John Bedson fired six times, one bullet hitting Ross Brand in the forehead and another striking his associate near the right butt cheek, exiting through his left thigh.  Ross suffered horrendous brain injuries and died in hospital in the early hours of the next morning.

Ross Brand

Victim's background
Ross was 51 when he died. As a fully fledged Bandidos member, he was a targeted enemy of the Rebels, who suspected him of firebombing their clubhouse in the past.  A year earlier they had ambushed his home but he wasn't there.  Before he was shot he reached down toward his trousers.  John claimed he was reaching for a gun or a knife which he was known to carry around, whereas the Crown claimed that Ross was merely about to tuck in his shirt or do up his fly.  Police have stated there were reliable reports that Ross had access to guns and grenades.  He left behind his wife of 14 years and a 12 year old son. Among the flowers at the scene of his death was a note that read: "Dad, I really don't know what to write, I wish I didn't have to write anything, but here we are … we're all going to miss you so fucking much."

John Bedson as sketched in court.

John Bedson's background
John was 24 at the time of the killing.  He is the half brother of Derek.  During school he suffered from learning disabilities and left school after failing Year 10.  He began using ice, LSD and cannabis.  When he was 18 he formed the group Death Before Dishonour with some friends, and went on to become a full member of the Rebels. He has 17 prior convictions for incidents including kicking cars and brandishing a knife (both incidents occurred while intoxicated). He was living with his girlfriend and her nine year old son until the killing.  Under their influence he had stopped drinking.  He and his girlfriend were going to get married in December 2008, but he has been in remand since the killing.


Derek Bedson's background
Derek was 21 at the time of the killing.  He completed Year 12 VCAL at Belmont High School and afterwards traveled from Geelong to Melbourne to complete a carpentry apprenticeship.  He began using cannabis from the age of 12 and engaged in amphetamine use from the age of 18. He has had previous convictions for possessing a handgun without a license and drug possession.  Derek was not a member of any of the bikie gangs involved.

Outcome of trial: John offered to plead guilty to manslaughter but the prosecution pursued a murder indictment instead.  A jury trial was required and they found him guilty.  Derek pleaded guilty to manslaughter and no trial was needed.  The men were also convicted for causing injury to the man who was shot in the butt.

Sentence:

John: 18 years imprisonment before eligible for parole (23 years max), with over two years of the sentence already served in remand.
Derek: Eight years before eligible for parole (12 years max), with approximately a year and a half of the sentence already served in remand.

You can read the judgement here.  Media coverage is available here and here.

Several bikies attended the sentencing decision.

Drug Dealer Responds Poorly to Negative Review

Crime: Murder

Occurred:  26 July 2009
Sentenced: 18 February 2011
Where: 6 Elizabeth Street, Mount Evelyn
Convicted:  Marc Hamilton
Victim:  Tim Fleming

What happened?
On a Sunday afternoon, Marc had Tim, a few friends and his girlfriend over.  Marc gave Tim a bag of amphetamine and in return when Tim got home he sent over a bag of cannabis.  Later that evening, Tim came back to Marc's house and threw the bag of amphetamine at Tim in front of his mates, telling him that it was shit, diluted, and he would not sell it.  Marc responded by punching Tim four times in the face.  Tim tried to fight back and in the ensuing struggle Marc got the best of him and he ended up dazed on the floor.  Marc grabbed a nearby samurai sword and slashed Tim's shoulder blade.  He threatened to cut off Tim's knees to which Tim replied, "Your missus doesn't need to see this" (she was sitting on the couch cradling her puppy at the time).  Marc's told his friends to not let Tim leave, and went to his bedroom.  There was uncertainty at trial whether Marc's friends were assisting Mark or were simply innocent bystanders.  One of Marc's friends claims to have told Tim to leave - another one of the friends says that he told Tim to "stay on the fucking floor".  In any event, Marc returned with a shotgun and said "This one's for you" before shooting Tim in the head.  The bullet wound exited Tim's throat, severing his spinal cord and killing him instantly.

Friends and family say Tim was optimistic about his future.

Victim's background
Tim was 33 years old at the time of death.  In 2005 he broke his neck in a car accident and four years on was unable to work and awaited further surgery.  He had two sons, aged seven and 10.  He and his girlfriend were no longer together and he lived in a caravan at his parents' house.

Convicted's background
Marc was 27 at the time of the murder and grew up in a violent home; his father spent much of Marc's childhood in prison for murder as well as manslaughter and is now dying of cancer.  His stepfather was a violent alcoholic.  Marc's two siblings were each born to a different father.  He left school in Year 8 to become a brickie's labourer for his stepdad, who later died in a motor cross accident while Marc watched on in the crowd.  Up to the shooting Marc was smoking marijuana daily and abusing prescription medication.  Following employment as a building contractor he worked as a greenskeeper at the Heritage Golf Club at Chirnside Park.  His girlfriend left him after the shooting and he is now single.

6 Elizabeth Street, Mt Evelyn

Outcome of trial: Marc pleaded guilty to manslaughter but not-guilty to murder, and a trial was necessary.  The jury found him guilty.  When the verdict came down, Marc shook his head and said the justice system was "a fucking joke".

Sentence:  18 years before eligible for parole (23 years max), with over a year already served in remand.

You can read the judgement here.  Media coverage is available here and here.

Paranoid Husband Murders Pregnant Wife

Crime:  Murder
Occurred: 24 August 2010
Sentenced: 25 March 2011
Where: Easterleigh Court, Dandenong
Convicted: Lino Mamour
Victim: Juana Legge

What happened?
Lino believed that his wife, Juana, was cheating on him.  On the afternoon of her death, Lino claimed that Juana pulled up a chair for him to sit in and told him, "if you are not a coward you will kill me".  Lino grabbed his 34cm knife and stabbed her several times in the heart and chest, also piercing her sternum.  He then drove to the Dandenong Police Station, covered in blood, to confess his crime.


Victim's background
Juana was 29 years old at the time of death.  She married Lino in Sudan and came to Australia in June 2010, when she fell pregnant.  She has left behind a family of ten siblings, many of whom reside in Sudan. Thirteen victim impact statements were submitted to the court by family members impacted by her death.


Convicted's background
Lino was 41 years old when he killed his wife. Born and raised in Sudan as a Christian, he was the youngest of four brothers and his parents died within 12 months of each other when he was 14. He trained as an accountant in Sudan but when civil war broke out he fled to Egypt and came to Australia as a refugee at the age of 30.  He settled in Dandenong and worked as an aged care worker, a butcher and then a machine operator.  
In the months leading up to her murder, he was obsessed that his wife was cheating on him.  He was distrustful of her doctor and was increasingly absent from work because he was so upset that Juana was unfaithful.  He could not sleep.  Before the murder occurred he was booked in for counselling through his work, who were concerned his mental state was deteriorating.  The court found there was no basis for Lino's paranoid beliefs.  Shortly before Juana's death he purchased the murder weapon, a large knife, because he believed he was being followed.  The psychologist involved in Lino's case reported that he did not appear to have an ongoing delusional mental disorder and that his wife's pregnancy may have added stress to what could have been an 'adjustment disorder with depressed mood of moderate severity'.

Outcome of trial: There was no trial because Lino pleaded guilty.

Sentence: 14 years before eligible for parole (18 years max).

You can read the judgement here.  Media coverage is available here and here.

61 Year Old Husband Kills Wife in Greenvale

Crime:  Murder
Occurred:  1 February 2010
Sentenced:  4 February 2011
Where: Family home in Greenvale
Convicted: Omer Bayram
Victim:  Sirin Bayram

What happened?
After a marriage that lasted almost 25 years, Omer and Sirin were separated but continued to live in the same house, despite increasing hostility.  Omer offered Sirin $250,000 as a full property settlement, but the marital pool was worth far more and Sirin was adamant that she wanted at least half the assets and this would involve the sale of the family home.  One Monday morning, Omer and Sirin argued in the kitchen about selling the house.  Omer grabbed a kitchen knife and stabbed Sirin five times in the chest and thigh.  She died soon after of blood loss. About half an hour later Omer rang 000 to tell the authorities that he had killed his wife.

Sirin on the right

Victim's background
Sirin was born in Cyprus and was 50 years old when she was killed.  She came to Australia in 1985, pregnant with her first child, and had two children in total (now aged 24 and 22).  She worked full time at Ericsson as a factory hand and clerk, contributing towards the house repayments and family savings.  Two days before her death she told her brother that she had found a new house in Epping she was going to buy, and was packing her things to begin a new life.

Convicted's background
Omer was the son of a shepherd, born in Cyprus and one of seven children.  He moved to Australia at the age of 23 after a stint in the British Amy in Libya.  He was 61 when he killed his wife.  Working nightshift at Dunlop rubber while his wife worked day shift, the two never saw each other much throughout their marriage.  In 2008, the Dunlop tyre plant closed down and Omer purchased a taxi licence.  As a member of the Craigieburn Art Group, two members provided character references at his sentencing hearing, stating that he was a gentleman.  He has no prior convictions.  His children were initially supportive of him when he was first arrested (visiting him in remand) but since then there has been a falling out over financial matters.

Outcome of trial: Omer pleaded guilty to murder and a trial was not required.

Sentence:  16 years before eligible for parole (19 max).  Omer has already served over a year of his sentence in remand.

You can read the judgement here.  Media coverage is available here and here.

Non-Payment of $2000 Debt Costs Life

A heroin addict was killed during an argument over money owed.

Crime:  Manslaughter

Occurred:  13 June 2004

Sentenced: 4 February 2011

Where: Convicted's home - not identified (body found in Thomastown)

Convicted: Bassam Tiba

Victim: Richard Haddara


What happened?
Richard owed Bassam's brother, Zain, some money.  Richard accepted $2000 in exchange for supplying electrical equipment, but never provided the equipment or returned the money.

On Sunday 13 June 2004, at Bassam's residence, Bassam had an argument with Richard over the money and stabbed him once in the chest, which pierced his heart and killed him.  Bassam put Richard in the back of Richard's car and drove it over to Zain's house, who jumped in the car and urged Bassam to go to the hospital.  Bassam drove in that direction but decided to dump the car at a carpark in Thomastown instead. He travelled on foot to another brother's house (Mohammed) and the next day flew out of Australia with his family, using Mohammed's passport.  He was extradited from Honiara in the Solomon Islands in December 2008.

Victim's background
Richard was a heroin addict who met Bassam in prison.  Before his death he was avoiding Bassam and his brother and was either unwilling or unable to pay back the debt owing.

Convicted's background
Bassam was born in Lebanon and came to Australia at the age of 12 with his parents and seven siblings.  He left Preston Tech after completing Year 10.  In 2000 he was imprisoned for four years and six months (before eligible for parole), for savagely beating his wife with a hose and a metal tipped cane.  His wife stayed loyal and waited for him while he was in prison.  He was out on parole for a month when he stabbed Richard to death.  After the killing he fled to Lebanon and then Egypt, working as an English teacher with his wife.  When he is released from prison he wants to return to his wife and children who remain in Egypt.  Currently in restrictive custody, he has been confined to his cell for 18 hours a day since May 2010, following an incident in prison involving other members of the Haddara family.

Outcome of trial: Bassam was originally indicted for murder, but once the charge was changed to manslaughter he pleaded guilty so there was no need for a trial.

Sentence:  6 years and 6 months before eligible for parole (max 10 years).

You can read the judgement here.  This killing has taken place in the midst of family feuding in the northern and western suburbs (major players including the Haddaras, Bibas and Chaouks).  You can read about it here, here and here.  The death toll points to another major gang war currently playing out around us.

Three Year Old Killed in Lalor

A three year old boy died in the back of a car boot.

Crime:  Manslaughter
Occurred:  4 March 2010
Sentenced:  2 February 2011
Where: Lalor area
Convicted:  Gursewak Dhillon
Victim:  Gurshan Singh

What happened?
Gursewak and his family lived with another family at 28 David Street in Lalor.  At around 11.30am on a Thursday morning, he opened a door without realising that Gurshan Singh, a three year old son of the other family, was on the other side.  The door struck the boy in the head and knocked him unconscious.  Gursewak, who had outstanding immigration violations, was scared that he would get in serious trouble from migration authorities if the police or ambulance attended the house.  He put the boy in the boot of his car and drove around the area for two hours, in which time the Gurshan either suffered from fatal heatstroke (the boot would have reached temperatures over 40 degrees Celsius) or asphyxiated.  At one stage Gursewak drove past the Northern Hospital but did not stop in.  He eventually ran out of petrol and flagged down a lift to the petrol station from a motorist while the boy remained in the boot. At this stage he checked the boot to see that Gurshan was no longer alive.  He dumped the corpse in long grass at Oaklands Junction, near Melbourne Airport.  A truck driver discovered the body at 6:20 that same evening.  Meanwhile, Gursewak returned to David Street where he denied any knowledge of the boy's whereabouts until three days later.

Gurshan and his mother

Victim's background
When Gurshan was discovered missing, a statewide campaign was launched to look for the three year old child.  When he was struck by Gursewak his mother was in the shower and his father was at the local library.  Since arriving in Australia two months beforehand, Gurshan was at times sick from the Melbourne heat.  On the day of his death he had not eaten anything.  His parents expressed their devastation through a victim impact statement which was considered in the judge's sentence.  They have returned home to India.


Convicted's background
Gursewak was 24 years old when he killed Gurshan.  He grew up in India and came to Australia on a student visa in 2006.  Gursewak did not complete his studies (which may have led to his immigration problems) and found work as a courier and taxi driver instead.  His wife and daughter lived with him in Melbourne for a time but are now in India.  

28 David Street Lalor where the initial incident occurred

Outcome of trial: Gursewark pleaded guilty before his committal hearing so a trial was not necessary.  He did not apply for bail while awaiting sentencing.




Sentence:   Three years before eligible for parole (five years max).  He has already served nearly one year of his sentence in remand.  Upon being freed he will be deported back to India.

You can read the judgement here.  Media coverage is available here and here.

Where the body was found