Gangland widow's spending spree

JUDY MORAN: The Melbourne widow went on a spending spree just weeks before the shooting of the brother-in-law whose death she is charged with.

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Australian police are investigating how gangland widow Judy Moran was able to go on a spending spree just weeks before her brother-in-law Des was shot dead in a Melbourne coffee shop.

Documents show that Mrs Moran was on May 16 forced to remortgage her home, which she had previously tried to sell for more than Aus$1 million.

Within two weeks of gaining refinancing approval she bought the first of three luxury cars.

It is believed that Mrs Moran, a 64-year-old pensioner, bought a Land Rover Discovery from a Doncaster dealer and two Chrysler sedans from a Nunawading car yard.

Previously she had complained to friends that she was having difficulty maintaining her lifestyle and was seriously ill.

The three cars were bought over 13 days - May 29 to June 10 - in a spree ending five days before her brother-in-law was murdered. The outlay was nearly Aus$200,000. Police have seized the three vehicles.

Desmond "Tuppence" Moran was shot dead by two masked gunmen in the Ascot Pasta and Deli Cafe on June 15.

The following day, Geoffrey Armour, 43, was charged with the murder, while Moran's sister-in-law, Judy Moran, and Armour's girlfriend, Suzanne Kane, were charged with accessory to murder.

This week the charges against Judy Moran and Suzanne Kane were upgraded to murder.

Armour had been under police surveillance on the day of the shooting and was seen driving the new Land Rover.

Police are confident they are close to identifying the second gunman.

Forensic accountants used to investigate the hidden financial web of the main players in Melbourne's underworld war have been assigned to look at Des Moran's assets, following claims he had undisclosed wealth from the Moran family drug syndicate.

But associates say he had distanced himself from the family's criminal activities many years earlier.

His main known asset was the house he, along with his brother Lewis, inherited from his parents. The house, on a large block near the Showgrounds, is valued at well over Aus$1 million.

After Lewis was gunned down in March 2004, a $600,000 crimes confiscation order was made against his estate. This means that 40 percent of the house will be forfeited when it is sold.

Des' nephews, Mark and Jason were shot dead in the underworld war in June 2000 and June 2003 respectively.

Des was killed on the anniversary of Mark's death.

The last Moran victim was popular and never considered a target during the gangland feud, but on March 17 there was an attempt to kill him in the driveway of his Langs Road home when a shot was fired at the driver of his car. Moran was in the passenger seat.

Police have lodged an application in the Magistrates Court to interview Armour over the attack. They have also applied to take DNA from him as part of the murder and attempted murder investigations.

After the first attempt on Moran's life, police found a balaclava and clothing, which they believe had been worn by the gunman. They have been sent for DNA examination. Detectives will also seek court permission next week for a DNA sample from Suzanne Kane.

Police have been told two suspects tested firearms at a country property in the weeks before Moran was killed.

- The Age