2.30pm after being shot by former associate Domenic "Mick" Gatto. 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 [Veniamin] not come around near [Gatto's group of friends] 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 Peirce. His funeral was held at the Greek Orthodox Church in Sunshine West, in western Melbourne, the same church where he had been an altar boy. In popular culture In the first season of drama series Underbelly, Veniamin was portrayed by actor Damian Walshe-Howling. References 1975 births 2004 deaths Australian organised crime figures Greek gangsters Australian people of Greek descent Criminals from Melbourne People murdered in Victoria (Australia) Victims of the Melbourne gangland killings 2004 murders in Australia People from Sunshine, Victoria