Dennis Allen (criminal)
{{Short description|Australian criminal (1951–1987)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Use Australian English|date=May 2011}}
{{Infobox criminal
|name = Dennis Allen
|image_name = Dallen1.jpg
|image_size =
|image_caption = Dennis Allen
|birth_date = Dennis Bruce Allen
{{Birth date|1951|11|7|df=y}}
|birth_place = Carlton, Victoria, Australia {{cite web|url=http://www.citv.com.au/tough-nuts/profiles/bio.aspx?p=5 |title=Allen, Dennis - Mr Death |publisher=CITV |accessdate = 3 August 2015 |archivedate=1 October 2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141001061341/http://www.citv.com.au/tough-nuts/profiles/bio.aspx?p=5 |url-status=dead }}
|death_date = {{Death date and age|1987|4|13|1951|11|7|df=y}}
|death_place = Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
|alias = Mr. Death, Mr. D
|charge =
|conviction =
|conviction_penalty =
|conviction_status =
|occupation = Drug dealer, criminal
|parents = Kath Pettingill
|children = 1
}}
Dennis Bruce Allen (7 November 1951 – 13 April 1987) was a notorious Australian drug dealer and alleged serial killer based in Melbourne. He was the oldest son of Kath Pettingill, a criminal matriarch. Allen's lawyer, Andrew Fraser, helped him avoid jail time by leveraging his knowledge of corrupt Victorian police officers at the time. However, Allen died of heart disease in 1987 while in prison custody, awaiting trial for murder.3 May 2002 [http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/05/02/1019441412194.html Brace for more gangland shootings, police warn] The Age
Criminal career
Dennis Allen, known as Mr. Death or Mr. D,{{cite journal|first=Adam|last=Shand|date=24 February 2004|title=Cast of characters; The main Melbourne crime factions and their most prominent members|journal=The Bulletin|volume=122|issue=8}} was suspected of involvement in up to 13{{efn|name="Murder count note"|Note that Tedmanson reports that Allen is suspected of up to 13 murders, while Shand reports 15.}} underworld murders, including the gruesome chainsaw dismemberment of Hells Angels biker Anton Kenny in 1985.{{cite news|first=Sophie|last=Tedmanson|title=Granny Evil to hit big screen|work=The Australian|publisher=News Ltd|page=8|date=13 May 2006}} He also attempted to gatecrash a party, shooting guitarist Chris Stockley of The Dingoes in the stomach.{{cite encyclopedia|last=McFarlane|first=Ian|authorlink=Ian McFarlane|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop|title=Encyclopedia entry for 'The Dingoes'|url=//www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=281|accessdate=17 April 2011|year=1999|publisher=Allen & Unwin|location=St Leonards, NSW|isbn=1-86508-072-1|archivedate=3 August 2004|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040803172000/http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=281|url-status=dead}} Allen had previously received a ten-year prison sentence for rape in the 1970s. He was a major drug dealer in Melbourne's Richmond and South Yarra areas during the 1980s.
Interestingly, New South Wales Police Detective-Sergeant Roger Rogerson was convicted of supplying heroin in a deal with Allen, but was later acquitted on appeal.{{cite news|title=NSW: Rogerson may have to reinvent himself again|work=Australian Associated Press General News|publisher=Australian Associated Press Pty Ltd|date=18 February 2005}} Allen managed to evade capture and prosecution by possessing incriminating information against corrupt Victorian police officers.
Death
Allen died on 13 April 1987, at St. Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, due to heart failure caused by years of heavy drug abuse, which led to pieces of his heart breaking off. His funeral was held with Father Peter Norden, a Jesuit priest officiating. Notably, Father Norden also performed the funerals of three other Pettingill family members during the 1980s.{{cite news|first=Cameron|last=Stewart|title=Godfella|work=The Australian Magazine|publisher=News Ltd|date=8 April 2006}}
Notes
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References
{{Reflist}}
{{Pettingill family}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Allen, Dennis}}
Category:Australian people convicted of rape
Category:Australian drug traffickers
Category:Australian people who died in prison custody
Category:Prisoners who died in Victoria (state) detention
Category:Drug-related deaths in Australia
Category:Criminals from Melbourne
Category:People charged with murder
Category:Suspected serial killers
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