Keith Faure

Infobox Criminal
subject_name = Keith George Faure


image_size = 180px
image_caption = Keith George Faure, circa 1980s
date_of_birth = 1951
place_of_birth =
date_of_death =
place_of_death =
alias =
charge =
conviction = Armed robbery x 4 Breaking and entering Manslaughter x 2 Murder x 2
penalty = Life imprisonment 19 year non-parole perioud
status = Imprisoned
occupation = Painter and docker Slaughterman Abalone sheller
spouse =
parents = Noel Ambrose Faure
children =

Keith George Faure (born June, 1951), from Norlane, Victoria, is an Australian career criminal, convicted of multiple murders and manslaughters. He is currently serving life imprisonment with a minimum non-parole period of 19 years for his role in two murders related to the Melbourne gangland killings. Faure's criminal history includes further convictions for armed robbery and breaking and entering.

Faure and Chopper Read continued a lengthy prison war while imprisoned in Melbourne's Pentridge Prison during the 1970s and 1980s and Faure features prominently in Read's first few books. Faure was also the basis for the character of "Keithy George" in the film "Chopper" [http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19017309-1243,00.html Mokbel ordered hit on Lewis Moran] , News.com.au, May 4 2006] , who is stabbed to death in the film's opening scenes. Faure, portrayed by actor David Field was reported to be unhappy with his portrayal and used his anger at his depiction in the film as a defense in a minor traffic offence. [http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/lets-make-a-deal/2006/05/03/1146335804814.html Let's make a deal] , The Age, May 4 2006] .

Criminal family

Faure's grandfather, Norman Leslie Bruhn, was reported to be a Sydney-based gangster who operated during the 1920s. He was shot and killed in 1927 during a hit ordered by Snowy Cutmore, who died with Squizzy Taylor in a Melbourne shoot-out four months later [http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/05/19/1084917654072.html A criminal dynasty that began in the 1920s] , The Age, May 20, 2004] .

His brother, Leslie Faure, is currently serving a 14 year prison sentence for the murder of his girlfriend, killed in 1997. [http://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/disp.pl/au/cases/vic/VSC/2000/208.html R v Faure (2000) VSC 208, 4 February 2000] , Supreme Court of Victoria, February 4 2000] . Faure's youngest brother, Noel Faure, was convicted of manslaughter for the 1990 killing of Frank Truscott of Rye, Victoria . Faure has been sent to trial for murder on five occasions and received two murder convictions.

1976 Clifton Hill ANZ Bank robbery

On June 4, 1976, Faure and two accomplices set out to rob the Clifton Hill branch of the ANZ Bank.

Faure was convicted of shooting Senior Constable Michael Pratt in the back during the robbery. Pratt was later awarded the George Cross award for bravery however retired from the police force due to injuries sustained in the shooting .

Faure was sentenced to 4 years imprisonment for his role in the robbery and shooting of Pratt [http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/vic/VSC/2006/169.html R v Faure (2006) VSC 169] , Supreme Court of Victoria, May 3 2006] .

Manslaughter of Shane Rowland

Faure was found guilty of the manslaughter of Shane Dennis Rowland, shot dead on May 1, 1976 at a house in Richmond .

Manslaughter of Alan Sopulak

Faure was found guilty of the manslaughter of prisoner Alan Sopulak in Pentridge prison. Sopulak died after he was stabbed nine times in the back with a sharpened butter knife .

Melbourne gangland killings

Murder of Lewis Caine

The body of Melbourne underworld figure, Lewis Caine, (also known as Sean Vincent [http://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/sinodisp/au/cases/vic/VSC/2006/166.html R v Faure & Goussis (2006) VSC 166] , Supreme Court of Victoria, May 3 2006] ) was found dumped in a residential street in Brunswick on May 8, 2004.

On November 3, 2005, Faure and Evangelos Goussis, were convicted for the murder of Lewis Caine, the first murder convictions related to the Melbourne underworld wars.

Murder of Lewis Moran

Lewis Moran and associate Herbert Wrout were shot while drinking at the Brunswick Club in Sydney Road, Brunswick.

Faure was reportedly paid AUD$150,000 by Tony Mokbel for the murder of Moran, of which $140,000 was collected.

On December 5 2005, during the committal hearing for the murder of Lewis Moran, Faure fainted in the dock and was attended to by paramedics after suffering a suspected stroke [http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Murder-suspect-collapses-in-court/2005/12/05/1133631184078.html Murder suspect collapses in court] , The Age, December 5 2005] . Faure pleaded guilty to the murder of Moran.

Trial and guilty plea

On May 3 2006, Faure was sentenced to 24 years imprisonment for the murder of Lewis Caine and life imprisonment with a non-parole period of 19 years for the murder of Lewis Moran .

ummary of criminal convictions

References