Occupation lawyer Role Lawyer | Name Mario Condello Criminal status Deceased | |
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Born 12 April 1952 ( 1952-04-12 ) Calabria, Italy Cause of death Shot dead by Rodney Collins Died 6 February 2006 (aged 53) Brighton, Victoria, Australia | ||
Inquest Into Unsolved Melbourne Gangland Murders (2017)
Mario Condello (12 April 1952 – 6 February 2006) was an Italian-Australian organised crime figure. Condello, once a lawyer, was a member of The Carlton Crew, and is believed to have been a money launderer for Melbourne's Calabrian mafia, the Ndrangheta. He was a key figure in the Melbourne gangland killings.
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Background
Condello was born in Calabria, Italy and was at one time a lawyer in Melbourne, Australia. He had a criminal record consisting of arson, fraud and drug trafficking and was also suspected by police to have been involved in multiple murders.
In June 2004, an attempt on Condello's life was foiled when two gunmen were caught by police outside Brighton Cemetery near his house.
In 2005, he was charged with plotting to murder crime boss Carl Williams, who later was convicted of conspiracy to murder Condello.
Murder
Condello was shot dead in his driveway on 6 February 2006, a day before he was due to stand trial for conspiracy to murder Williams. Police feared that his murder would be the resumption of the gangland wars. Melbourne police believed hitman Rodney Collins killed Mario Condello as a paid hit. Rodney Collins is serving life with a minimum of 32 years for a 1987 double murder for which he was convicted in May 2010.
About 700 people attended his funeral, with Mick Gatto serving as a pallbearer.