MELBOURNE // The matriarch of one of Melbourne's most powerful underworld families was refused bail today when she appeared in court in connection with the shooting of her brother-in-law. Judy Moran and a friend were charged late yesterday as accessories after the fact in the death of Desmond "Tuppence" Moran, 61, who was gunned down on Monday in the doorway of a popular deli by two gunmen wearing balaclavas. Magistrate Jelena Popovic ruled that Mrs Moran, 64, and Suzanne Kane, 45, were a threat to the community because of their access to firearms, and denied them bail. Police allegedly found handguns and a loaded shotgun in the house that the two women shared, as well as clothing matching the description of that worn by the gunmen.
Police had opposed bail for Mrs Moran, saying she was a flight risk and could hinder the investigation. "We believe she will obstruct the course of justice if released. She has shown a propensity to destroy evidence," Det Sen Const Stephen Reidy told the Melbourne Magistrates Court. Since her arrest Tuesday night, Mrs Moran's home had been severely damaged by a suspicious fire. Police accuse Mrs Moran of disposing of the getaway car used by her brother-in-law's killers. Police also allege that she was overheard talking about disposing of items used in the shooting. Ms Kane's boyfriend, Geoffrey Amour, 43, has been charged with murder in the case. He is expected to appear in court tomorrow.
The Moran family was involved in a decade-long war for control of Melbourne's drug trade that killed at least 28 criminal figures or associates. The majority of the murders remained unsolved. * AP
