Mario Condello

{{Infobox criminal

| name = Mario Condello

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1952|4|12|df=y}}

| birth_place = Carlton, Victoria, Australia

| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2006|2|6|1952|4|12}}

| death_place = Brighton, Victoria, Australia

| occupation = Lawyer

| conviction_status = Deceased

| spouse =

| children =

| parents =

| allegiance = The Carlton Crew

| motive = Conspiracy to murder Carl Williams

| conviction = Arson, fraud, drug trafficking

| cause = Gunshot wounds

| alias =

| charge = Conspiracy to murder Carl Williams

| conviction_penalty =

| image =

}}

Mario Rocco 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/no-amount-of-guns-could-protect-mafia-money-man/story-e6frf7kx-1226001054459|title=No amount of guns could protect mafia money man Mario Condello|date=6 February 2011|work=Herald Sun|accessdate=22 August 2017}} He was a key figure in the Melbourne gangland killings.

Background

Condello was born in Carlton, Victoria to Calabrian parents 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/06/12/1086749946917.html|title=Gangland target ready to forgive|work=The Age|date=13 June 2004 |accessdate=22 August 2017}}

In 2005, he was charged with plotting to murder crime boss Carl Williams.{{cite news|url=https://www.theage.com.au/news/Crime--Corruption/Condello-wins-fourth-application-for-bail/2005/03/04/1109700678523.html|title=Condello wins fourth application for bail|author=Moynihan, Stephen|work=The Age|agency=AAP|date=5 March 2005|access-date=5 May 2018}} Williams 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.

On 7 February 2006, his counsel, Robert Richter, QC told the trial judge, "Unfortunately, I announce my client won't be answering bail, he was murdered last night...He died confident of his acquittal."{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/murder-stops-underworld-trial-20060208-gdmx7f.html|title=Murder stops underworld trial|work=Sydney Morning Herald|date=7 February 2006 |accessdate=4 August 2019}}

Police feared that his murder would be the resumption of the gangland wars. Victoria Police believed hitman Rodney Collins killed Mario Condello as a paid hit. Collins was serving a life sentence with a minimum of 32 years for a 1987 double murder for which he was convicted in May 2010, before his death in 2018.{{cite web|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/condello-gunned-down/2006/02/06/1139074172355.html|title=Condello gunned down in Brighton|work=The Age|date=7 February 2006 |accessdate=22 August 2017}}

About 700 people attended Condello's funeral, with Mick Gatto serving as a pallbearer.{{cite news|title=Hundreds say goodbye to 'a man among men'|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/hundreds-say-goodbye-to-a-man-among-men/2006/02/10/1139542406249.html|accessdate=4 February 2014|newspaper=The Age|date=11 February 2006}}