1976 -1983 Part V – Retribution

Note 52: Les Kane was shot dead in his Wantirna home in October 1978 after returning home with his family. His wife and two children were in the second bedroom. His body was never found. His wife initially denied that he was dead.

Note 53: Ray Chuck, Laurie Prendergast, and Vinnie Mikkelsen were charged with Les Kane’s murder but were later acquitted due to the lack of a body, as well as all having alibis from other Painters and Dockers.

Note 54: Silvers nightclub became a celebrity hotspot, frequented by the likes of Tom Jones, Rod Stewart, and other A-listers, until it was sold in 1990 and converted into an upscale restaurant. It is now a ‘rave’ venue for hire.

Note 55: Graham ''The Munster'' Kinniburgh was one of Brian Kane's best friends. The events at Silvers were reported by barrister Philip Dunn QC. 'The Munster' was a well-known underworld hit man who went on to associate with colourful characters such as Alphonse Gangitano (shot dead in 1998) and Mick Gatto. Kinniburgh, in turn, was shot dead outside his home in 2003.

Note 56: On November 4, 1977, Russell Cox became the first man to escape from Katingal, the maximum-security unit of Long Bay Jail. The description of his escape in the story is accurate. He remained at large for 11 years.

Note 57: Brian "Murphy" admitted to being near the Melbourne Magistrates' Court when Ray Bennett was shot, although he had no reason to be there. He said he was just passing by and witnessed the event, not involved in the shooting itself.

Note 58: Raymond "Chuck" Bennett was shot and killed at the Melbourne Magistrates Court on November 12, 1979, while in police custody awaiting a court appearance. While the case remains officially open, Brian Murphy was adamant that Brian Kane was the shooter.

Note 59: Jim Bazley died in Melbourne in 2018 at the age of 90. He served nine years for conspiracy to murder anti-drugs campaigner Donald Mackay, though not for the murder itself.

Note 60: The following extract is from the ROYAL COMMISSION ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE FEDERATED SHIP PAINTERS AND DOCKERS UNION. Commissioner: Mr Frank Costigan, Q.C. Final Report Vol 1 – 26-Oct-1984. “5.068. I have conducted an exhaustive investigation into the activities of Carroll and his associates. There is little point in identifying those associates in this part of my report. A summary of their activities appears as Volume 6. I say summary - an analysis has been conducted of the affairs of these people. That analysis is exhaustive and is the result of many hours of labour by members of my staff and in particular of senior assisting counsel. It contains, approximately 1165 pages and results from consideration of the evidence of 38 witnesses, 395 exhibits and 33053 pages of documents.”

Note 61: From a search of Ian Carroll’s records after his death, police now believe that Carroll, in six months alone, was instrumental in armed robberies committed in September 1981 on Nabisco ($89,836); November 1981 on VicRail ($248,404); 9 December 1981 on W. R. Grace ($111,404); and 15 February 1982 on CBA Bank ($139,400). Normie Lee was shot during a holdup attempt at Melbourne Airport in 1982. See Channel News report: Vinnie Mikklesen was notoriously camera shy, to the point he would remove film from people taking his photo and bribing wedding photographers to ensure he wasn’t in the background of any shot.

Note 62: Brian Kane was shot and killed at the Quarry Hotel on November 26, 1982, by two men wearing balaclavas. No one was ever charged. The case remains open.

Note 63: Ian Carroll was shot and killed by Russell Cox at his Mt Martha holiday house on January 3, 1983. Cox later claimed he returned weeks later and retrieved $1.2 million buried in a barrel under a shed floor.

Note 64: Russell Cox, 38, was arrested on July 22, 1988, when he and Raymond Denning attempted an armed robbery of an armoured car at Doncaster Shoppingtown. Russell Cox spent 11 years on the run due to his ability to constantly change his appearance.

Note 65: Russell Cox was charged with the murder of Ian Carroll but acquitted on the grounds of self-defence.