Convicted underworld criminals, including four-time gangland killer Carl Williams, are eligible to apply for $100,000 rewards posted for three unsolved Melbourne gangland murders.
Police today made a fresh appeal for information on the murders of Victor Peirce, Paul Kallipolitis and Francesco Benvenuto, and said anyone, including convicted gangland criminals such as Williams, could apply for the rewards if they gave information leading to arrest and conviction.
Benvenuto was shot in May 2000, Peirce in May 2002 and Kallipolitis in October 2002. All three were underworld figures.
Detective Inspector Bernie Edwards, from the Purana gangland taskforce, said there were no rules precluding Williams, jailed for 35 years for four murders, or other gangland criminals, receiving the rewards.
"He is eligible to apply," Det Insp Edwards told reporters in Melbourne.
And, he said, anyone, including wives, girlfriends or de factos of those involved could also apply for the rewards, if they gave information leading to arrest and conviction.
"Anyone who's involved, they could be related to them, it could be a wife, girlfriend, de facto, anybody who brings information, that will be considered."
Det Insp Edwards said police had enough evidence to show Williams' former friend and bodyguard, Andrew "Benji" Veniamin was the gunman in each of the murders on which they are seeking information.
"Andrew was the shooter, we believe they're connected through other people," he said.
Police say they are closing in on a couple of suspects who are known within the gangland fraternity.
Veniamin was shot dead in a Carlton restaurant in 2004 by another underworld identity, Mick Gatto, who was later acquitted of his murder on self-defence grounds.
As well as Veniamin being Williams' right-hand-man, he was also good friends with Williams' wife, Roberta, who has said she and Veniamin "were really good friends and very, very close".