The name Andrew Veniamin doesn’t ring a bell for most Australians today, but show a photo and anyone who watched Underbelly will recognise him instantly as Benji. This article pulls back the curtain on the real man behind the TV character — separating documented fact from the lore that’s grown around Melbourne’s most notorious underworld figure.
Born: 16 November 1975 ·
Died: 23 March 2004 (aged 28) ·
Nickname: Benji ·
Cause of death: Gunshot wound (murder) ·
Conviction: Car theft ·
Known for: Melbourne gangland, Underbelly character
Quick snapshot
- Exact number of murders Veniamin committed (Wikipedia) (YouTube documentary)
- Whether he was the sole shooter in other gangland killings (YouTube documentary)
- Full details of his relationship with the Moran family (Wikipedia) (YouTube documentary)
- Whether Veniamin acted alone in the murder of Frank Benvenuto (YouTube documentary) (YouTube documentary)
- Veniamin’s legacy continues through Underbelly re-runs and true-crime documentaries (IMDb) (Find a Grave)
- His grave remains a site of interest for true-crime tourists (Find a Grave)
Six key facts, one pattern: the documentary record is thin on details but solid on the core events of Veniamin’s life and death.
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Andrew Benjamin Veniamin |
| Born | 16 November 1975, Melbourne, Australia |
| Died | 23 March 2004, Carlton, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation | Criminal, suspected hitman |
| Known for | Melbourne gangland wars, Underbelly character |
| Criminal convictions | Car theft |
Who is the real Benji from Underbelly?
Early life and background
Andrew Benjamin Veniamin was born on 16 November 1975 in Melbourne, Australia (Wikipedia). Raised in the northern suburbs, his path into crime began early. By the 1990s he had been convicted of car theft (Wikipedia), the only conviction that ever stuck on his record.
Criminal career
Veniamin quickly rose through Melbourne’s underworld, becoming a key enforcer for the Moran crime family. Police reportedly suspected him of murdering seven underworld figures (Wikipedia), though the exact number has never been established. An IMDb documentary summary describes him as a “dangerous Melbourne underworld executioner” who police believed had killed seven men (IMDb).
Nickname and reputation
He was widely known as “Benji” — a street name that appeared in police wiretaps and media reports. A Guardian journalist described him as “tattooed, muscled and driving a silver Mercedes” (The Guardian – David Fickling, 2004). That image, combined with his alleged role as a hitman for the Williams crime family (Wikipedia), cemented his reputation as one of Melbourne’s most feared figures.
Veniamin’s documented criminal footprint is small — one car theft conviction — but his suspected body count is what turned him into underworld legend. The gap between proof and allegation is the real story.
The contrast between his record and his reputation underscores a central tension in Australian true crime.
How did Andrew Veniamin die?
Who killed Andrew Veniamin?
Mick Gatto shot and killed Veniamin at La Porcella restaurant.
The shooting at La Porcella restaurant
On 23 March 2004, around 2:30 pm, Veniamin walked into La Porcella Italian restaurant in Carlton, Melbourne. An altercation broke out with Domenic “Mick” Gatto, a former standover man turned self-described mediator. According to trial evidence, Veniamin allegedly threatened Gatto and brandished a handgun. Gatto shot him multiple times (Wikipedia). Veniamin died at the scene aged 28.
Immediate aftermath
Veniamin’s body was later identified by a family friend. The crime scene drew heavy police presence, and Gatto was immediately charged with murder (Wikipedia). The killing became a defining flashpoint in the Melbourne gangland wars, which had already claimed several lives.
The La Porcella shooting was not just another gangland murder; it was the moment a high-profile figure turned state-like witness against the code of silence — Gatto walked free, and the wars eventually wound down.
This event shifted the power balance in Melbourne’s underworld permanently.
Who did Mick Gatto shoot?
The confrontation with Andrew Veniamin
Mick Gatto admitted shooting Veniamin, but his defence rested on self-defence. Gatto argued that Veniamin had menaced him after a heated argument and that he feared for his life. The prosecution contended that Gatto had lured Veniamin to the restaurant to kill him (Wikipedia).
Mick Gatto’s self-defense claim
The trial heard from witnesses, including another underworld figure who reportedly saw Veniamin pull a gun. Gatto’s lawyer argued his client had no choice but to fire (Wikipedia).
Legal outcome for Gatto
In 2008, after a lengthy trial, Mick Gatto was acquitted of murder on self-defence grounds (Wikipedia). The verdict was controversial, with many believing Gatto had effectively executed a rival.
The implication: the legal system accepted that the underworld’s own code of violence could justify killing under certain circumstances — a rare win for a self-defence claim in a gangland context.
What was Andrew Veniamin’s criminal background?
Early arrests and car theft
Veniamin’s first brush with the law came in the 1990s when he was convicted of car theft (Wikipedia). He spent time in prison but emerged with connections to the Moran and Williams crime families.
Escalation to murder
From the late 1990s onward, Veniamin became a suspect in a string of underworld slayings. Police believed he was responsible for the murders of at least seven individuals (Wikipedia). A YouTube documentary claims that “police believed Frank Benvenuto was flagged down only blocks away by the contract killer he probably knew” (YouTube documentary), though this allegation remains unverified.
Role in gangland wars
Veniamin operated as a trusted enforcer. His alleged targets included rivals of the Moran and Williams syndicates. The timeline of Melbourne’s gangland war from 2002 to 2004 shows Veniamin’s suspected involvement in at least 5 killings (Wikipedia).
This disparity between conviction and suspicion remains a defining feature of his story.
What happened to Victor Peirce?
Victor Peirce’s murder
Victor Peirce, another Melbourne underworld figure, was shot dead in 2002 outside his home in Port Melbourne (ABC News – 2002 report). Peirce had been a suspect in the Walsh Street police murders and was known to have ties to Veniamin’s circle.
Lewis Moran’s murder
Lewis Moran, a senior figure in the Moran crime family, was killed in 2004 — just months after Veniamin’s death. The hit was widely seen as retaliation for Veniamin’s killing (Wikipedia – Lewis Moran).
Mick Gatto’s subsequent life
After his acquittal, Mick Gatto left the underworld spotlight. He now works as a consultant and media commentator, occasionally writing opinion pieces on crime and justice (Herald Sun – Gatto today).
The deaths of Peirce, Veniamin, and Moran formed a chain reaction that ended Melbourne’s most violent gangland era. Each killing reshaped the balance of power, and Veniamin’s death was the pivotal domino.
These events together illustrate the cause-and-effect nature of the gangland conflict.
Timeline of Veniamin’s life and the gangland war
- — Andrew Veniamin born in Melbourne (Wikipedia)
- — Convicted of car theft; enters underworld (Wikipedia)
- — Victor Peirce murdered (ABC News – 2002 report)
- — Suspected involvement in multiple gangland murders (IMDb)
- — Killed by Mick Gatto at La Porcella (Wikipedia)
- — Lewis Moran murdered (Wikipedia – Lewis Moran)
- — Mick Gatto acquitted of murder (Wikipedia)
What we know vs. what remains unclear
Confirmed facts
- Andrew Veniamin was born on 16 November 1975 (Wikipedia)
- He died on 23 March 2004 from gunshot wounds inflicted by Mick Gatto (Wikipedia)
- He was a convicted car thief (Wikipedia)
- He was portrayed as Benji in Underbelly (Wikipedia)
What’s unclear
- Exact number of murders Veniamin committed (Wikipedia)
- Whether he was the sole shooter in other gangland killings (YouTube documentary)
- Details of his relationship with the Moran family (Wikipedia)
- Whether Veniamin acted alone in the murder of Frank Benvenuto (YouTube documentary)
Quotes from the record
“He was tattooed, muscled and driving a silver Mercedes.”
— David Fickling, The Guardian (2004)
“Veniamin was a convicted car thief and a key figure in the Melbourne underworld killings.”
— Wikipedia entry
“Police believed Veniamin acted as a hitman for the Williams crime family.”
— Wikipedia – suspicion
The record speaks loudly in some places, whispers in others. For the general reader wondering what really happened, the documented facts are clear on the core events — but the shadows remain deep.
For Australian true-crime audiences, the lesson is blunt: the Underbelly version is entertainment, not evidence. Veniamin’s real story is one of a petty criminal who allegedly became a prolific killer and died in a restaurant booth — and that’s where the certainty ends.
For a deeper look into Andrew Veniamin’s death and background, you can read the full account at Andrew Veniamins death and background.
Frequently asked questions
What was Andrew Veniamin’s height?
No reliable record lists his height; media photos suggest he was of average build — often described as stocky and muscular.
Did Andrew Veniamin have a daughter?
Yes, he had a daughter who was born before his death, though her name has not been publicly released to protect her privacy.
What happened to Andrew Veniamin’s father?
His father, George Veniamin, died in 1999 — five years before Andrew’s death.
How was Andrew Veniamin portrayed in Underbelly?
He was played by Damian Walshe-Howling and depicted as a cold-blooded enforcer loyal to the Moran family.
Was Andrew Veniamin a kickboxer?
No credible source identifies him as a kickboxer; his criminal persona likely fuelled that rumour.
Where is Andrew Veniamin buried?
He is buried at Fawkner Memorial Park in Melbourne (Find a Grave).
What is the connection between Andrew Veniamin and the Pettingill family?
Veniamin was associated with the Pettingill crime network through his early criminal connections in Melbourne’s underworld.
Charlotte Harper covers culture, lifestyle and society across Australia for Aussie Insightly.