Vic: Williams to be farewelled with funeral prayers

AAP General News (Australia)
04-29-2010
Vic: Williams to be farewelled with funeral prayers

By Michelle Draper

MELBOURNE, April 29 AAP - Roberta Williams is expected to lead the eulogies for her
ex-husband Carl Williams as he is farewelled amid tight security on Friday.

The gangland killer will be remembered with funeral prayers, but not a full Catholic
mass, at St Therese's church in Essendon where his mother Barbara and arch rivals Mark
and Lewis Moran were also laid to rest.

The ceremony is expected to go for at least 30 minutes, but could be up to an hour
depending on the number of speakers.

It is understood Roberta Williams and some of her children will be among those eulogising him.

Williams, who was bashed to death last week at Geelong's Barwon Prison where he was
serving a life term for four gangland murders, will later be buried at Keilor Cemetery.

It is believed another family wanting to bury a relative nearby at the same time moved
their burial to another day, after being told the timeslot was taken.

"In respect to the privacy of grieving families and to ensure smooth traffic management,
it is not normal practice to have two burials occurring at the same time in the same area
at the cemetery," said Liz Riley, the interim chief executive of The Greater Metropolitan
Cemeteries Trust.

Victoria Police has plans in place for a strong police presence if the funeral for
the former drugs kingpin, expected to draw a large crowd, gets out of hand.

One unit has been rostered to monitor the funeral and manage traffic, a police spokeswoman said.

The unit will patrol the area around the church in Melbourne's north, the spokeswoman said.

A police vehicle could be stationed out the front of the church or officers may mingle
with the crowd, she said.

Police have developed a plan to boost officer numbers at the funeral if required, she said.

Williams was jailed for a minimum 35 years for ordering hits on Lewis Moran and his
son Jason, Michael Mallia and Michael Marshall.

Williams' daughter Dhakota was also christened at the church.

Roberta Williams' son Tye Stephens has been refused leave from jail, where he is serving
a sentence for robbery, to attend the funeral.

Corrections Victoria confirmed it refused the funeral leave application over security
and public safety concerns.

"Corrections Victoria has offered family members the opportunity to attend a private
memorial service with the prisoner at the Barwon Prison chapel," it said in a statement.

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KEYWORD: WILLIAMS

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