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MELBOURNE - Gangland killer Carl Williams has borrowed heavily from a Celine Dion hit in a death notice tribute to his mother Barbara, who was found dead in her Melbourne home on Saturday.
Barbara Williams was found dead in the bedroom of her home in Primrose St, Essendon, in Melbourne's north-west, on Saturday morning after an apparent drug overdose.
Carl, a notorious criminal figure, was last year jailed for 35 years for the murders of three gangland rivals during Melbourne's underworld war.
His father George, 61, is serving time for drug convictions.
In a death notice the Herald Sun newspaper said was placed by his girlfriend, Carl Williams loosely quoted the Celine Dion song Because You Loved Me at the end of a tribute to his mother.
"To my dearest Mum.
"You were my pillar of strength., always there when I needed you the most. I knew I could count and depend on you, even at the lowest of times. Your undying love and support was there through thick and thin. You were my voice when I couldn't speak and strength when I was weak."
Not only were you my mother, you were my best friend.
"I love you Mum.
"Rest in Peace
"- Your loving son, Carl."
Carl Williams' death notice was the first of 12 death notices for the gangland matriarch in Monday's Herald Sun newspaper.
Most expressed sympathy for Carl, George and Carl's daughter Dhakota.
There was no death notice from either George Williams or Carl's estranged wife Roberta, who was photographed appearing distressed outside Barbara Williams' house on Saturday.
Both Carl and George Williams are expected to ask authorities for permission to leave prison under escort to attend the funeral.
However, a source said it would be highly unlikely someone of Carl's infamy would be granted leave because of the risk of escape and safety concerns for escorting officers.
The outcome of any such request may not be known until the day of the funeral, which has not been set.
No autopsy will be carried out on Ms Williams' body, at the request of her family.
The homicide squad said on Sunday there was nothing suspicious about Ms Williams' death, and therefore the family had the right - and had exercised its right - to ask for no post-mortem examination.
- AAP
