Background
Veniamin was born to Greek Cypriot immigrant parents, and was raised in the Western Melbourne suburb of Sunshine.
Veniamin was born to Greek Cypriot immigrant parents, and was raised in the Western Melbourne suburb of Sunshine.
A convicted car thief, Veniamin is recognised as being a key figure in the Melbourne underworld killings, suspected of both murdering seven underworld figures, and being a hit-man for the Williams crime family. Veniamin was killed by Domenic "Mick" Gatto at Louisiana Porcella restaurant in Carlton in self-defense following a heated argument. Veniamin worked at the West Melbourne wholesale fruit and vegetable market.
Shortly before his death, Veniamin fathered a daughter as the result of a casual affair.
Victoria Police say Veniamin was one of the most dangerous and feared men connected to Melbourne"s crime scene, and by the time of his death in 2004 they had connected him with several of Melbourne"s underworld murders. Veniamin met with Nik Radev on 15 April 2003, the day Radev was murdered in Coburg.
Although Roberta had previously rejected claims she and Veniamin were intimate, in early 2009 she admitted that he was her soulmate. Gatto was charged with his murder but acquitted on self-defence grounds.
During the trial, Gatto claimed Veniamin had pulled out a.38 pistol and threatened to kill him, when they were together in an enclosed area at the back of the restaurant.
There were no witnesses. Gatto claims Veniamin lost his temper after being told that "he"d rather not come around near at all", that Veniamin drew a gun and that during a struggle he was able to turn the gun around on Veniamin and fire one shot into his neck, and one shot into the eye. Gatto also claimed that before Veniamin lost his temper, Veniamin had implicated himself in the deaths of Dino Dibra, Paul Kallipolitis and Graham Kinniburgh.
He is also believed to have killed underworld figure Victor Pierce.
In the first season of drama series Underbelly, Veniamin was portrayed by actor Damian Walshe-Howling.