The stepdaughter of murdered drug dealer Carl Williams has launched a civil claim against the Victorian government alleging it failed to ensure her father’s safety in prison after he agreed to be a police witness.
Lawyers for Breanane Stephens, 30, claim Corrections Victoria approved the transfer of a fellow inmate to Williams’ cell in a high-security unit at Barwon Prison despite knowing he hated informants and had attacked to other prisoners and staff.
Ms Stephens is one of two children Williams’ widow, Roberta, had with her previous partner. She is the half-sister of Dhakota Williams, the only daughter of Carl and Roberta.
Carl Williams, 39, was murdered in prison in 2010 by inmate Matthew Johnson, who used a metal bar from an exercise bike to inflict several blows to the back of the head.
A judge later determined that Williams had been murdered because he was providing information to police about the 2004 murders of police informant Terance Hodson and his wife Christine in exchange for a reduction in his sentence.
In documents filed in the Supreme Court of Victoria, Stephens claims that Johnson belonged to the Prisoner of War gang, known for detesting inmates who gave information to the police, the Herald of the sun information.
The documents allege that he had a history of previous assaults against other inmates and prison staff, and that he had used the same weapon with which he bludgeoned Williams.
Email exchanges between Rod Wise and Penny Armytage (the then acting commissioner of Corrections Victoria and the then secretary of the Department of Justice, respectively) showed that they supported the prisoner transfer despite having concerns about Williams’ safety.
Carl Williams’ daughter Dhakota Williams (right) and stepdaughter Breanane Williams arrive at the funeral of Carl’s father George Williams at Saint Therese Parish in Melbourne in 2016.
Carl Williams (pictured 20024) was serving multiple sentences at Barwon Prison for the murders of four underworld figures when he was murdered by a fellow prisoner in 2010.
In an email sent in 2009, Wise said there was “little doubt that Johnson would be capable of causing harm to Williams if he discovered the nature of her cooperation with police.”
He said Johnson might attack Williams for “financial incentives” or to “enhance his reputation” and because any sentence for an attack would likely run “at the same time” as the current one.
They supported the transfer on the condition that Williams and Stephenson be strictly monitored.
Two months after the transfer was approved, a prison officer informed Victoria Corrections in March 2009 that “everyone knows that (Williams) is cooperating with Victoria Police in exchange for a reduction in his sentence and other benefits”.
“These opinions…may be of concern for the safety of prisoner Williams and may be the cause of some type of attempt to harm prisoner Williams or those around him,” the report allegedly said.
The following year, in March 2010, Johnson is alleged to have downloaded a version of Williams’ police witness statement about two men accused of the murders of Terance and Christine Hodson.
Johnson claimed he killed Williams in self-defence, but CCTV denied this and he is serving a life sentence behind bars.
Breanane Stephens (left with Dhakota Williams) is suing the Victorian government for failing to protect her stepfather Carl Williams in prison.
Williams’ biological daughter (pictured), Dhakota, has already received a confidential six-figure settlement for his death.
Ms Stephens alleges Corrections Victoria was negligent in its duty to “take reasonable steps for the safe custody and welfare” of Williams and that a proper risk assessment was not carried out for Johnson.
Dhakota Williams has already received a six-figure confidential settlement for her father’s death.
A spokesperson for the Department of Justice and Community Safety told the Herald Sun Williams’ death was “thoroughly investigated by a number of independent and review bodies, including the Ombudsman and the Correctional Services Review Office”.
“The recommendations from these reviews have been implemented… As this matter is currently before the court, it would be inappropriate to comment further.”
Ms Stephens’ lawyers said Corrections Victoria had failed to “ensure the proper management, security and good order of the prison” and that their client had suffered loss and psychological harm.
