Re: Alex Tsakmakis - help needed

[skilts]

This is a long shot, but you never know if you don't give it a go. I am doing some research for a writing project about this man, Alex Tsakmakis.

He was a convicted serial killer who lived in Melbourne up until 1988, when he was, in turn, murdered.

His family were involved in a business in the northern suburbs of Melbourne, constructing steel ramps. Apparently, Tsakmakis was a bit of a lad about town, frequenting night clubs and the like.

I am hoping somebody may have run across him and may have some useful detail about him. Someone from the Melbourne Greek community may know of him. His brother runs an accountancy business, which I believe is still operating.

If anyone knows of this man, please post on this thread.

 

[Unforgivin]

The greek community would not claim this guy as one of their own.
As for being a man about town I dont think this was the case either.
Tsakmakis was a mean bastard who once had a dispute with a young guy selling a car privately. Somehow he overpowered the young guy , tied him up and then threw him alive off a wharf into
the sea to die.

He was sent to jail for shooting a middle age couple at a TAB in Prahran which was completely callous.

In the pen he had a dispute with Dennis Allen who was the topdog. Somehow he was able one day to cover Allen with solvent and set him alight and incinerate Allen who died.

Tsakmakis eventually met his match with the Bomber( Russell St type),who got him with a sack full of barbell weights one day,and the lights went out for old Alex.

Compared to Alex, Chopper Read is a fairy. Alex was the real mean machine!

 

[skilts]

Unforgiven, thanks for the info. Knew most of what you said. Don't think the Greek community would look any more kindly on him than you do.

Herein is my difficulty. This person was an unmitigated 'thing', according to those who met him. Unfortunately, most of the people who spoke about him were cops, screws or crims. They all share your view of him.

My problem is that for the purposes of what I'm writing, I need to know something about the man, other than his crimes. Admittedly, what you have said may be all there is to know about him. However, all I end up with from that is a one-dimensional character. I am hoping that was not all there was to him. I'm hoping someone can tell me another side to his character, if there was one. For instance, he may have loved his mother. I do know he was very family oriented - not unusual in the Greek community. I am also trying to get some idea of what made him tick.

I need to talk to someone who knew, or at least met him. Finally, I don't want anyone to think what I'm writing is about Tsakmakis as such. He is a character in a much bigger story, albeit a central one.

 

[Jimmy Durden]

my dad was good mates with him, apparently he was the best bloke around if you were mates with him, he'd do anythin for you, but he was a lulu and bashed people for no reason. Once he was turning into the auto accesory store where he and my dad worked, and there was a cement truck driver behind him blowing his horn, so Alex got out of his car in the middle of the road, smashed his hand through the windscreen and broke all the bones in his hand then bashed the guy.
Another time they were all having lunch and one of their mates was complaining about his divorce and how his wife wanted to take the childred, and Alex started going 'oh yeah where does she live?' 'what kind of car does she drive?' and the guy caught on and calmed alex down.
One other thing, most people pronounced his last name 'tas'makis because no one could read it properly

 

[HSSB]

my dad was good mates with him, apparently he was the best bloke around if you were mates with him, he'd do anythin for you, but he was a lulu and bashed people for no reason. Once he was turning into the auto accesory store where he and my dad worked, and there was a cement truck driver behind him blowing his horn, so Alex got out of his car in the middle of the road, smashed his hand through the windscreen and broke all the bones in his hand then bashed the guy.
Another time they were all having lunch and one of their mates was complaining about his divorce and how his wife wanted to take the childred, and Alex started going 'oh yeah where does she live?' 'what kind of car does she drive?' and the guy caught on and calmed alex down.
One other thing, most people pronounced his last name 'tas'makis because no one could read it properly

Solid bump

 

[Damon_3388]

In the pen he had a dispute with Dennis Allen who was the topdog. Somehow he was able one day to cover Allen with solvent and set him alight and incinerate Allen who died.

I was under the impression that Dennis Allen died of heart failure, due to his heavy heroin abuse.

 

[Bulldog Breed]

Me too. Tsakmakis still set another prisoner alight I'm fairly sure, just it wasn't Allen.

 

[SweetLeftFoot]

I thought Allen died due to heart problems due to all the goey he was jacking.

I seem to recall on another thread here a poster (may have been skilts actuallty) said Tsakmakis had killed a friend of theirs.

Either way, sounds like a nasty nasty piece of work.

 

[WeetBixKid]

Nice Bump, hopefully you just snuck it in before OP's assignment was due.

 

[yummy6]

Nice Bump, hopefully you just snuck it in before OP's assignment was due.

It's not due until July 2012

 

[Jimmy Durden]

Alex knocked Barry Quinn in prison not Dennis Allen, people give a lot of reasons for it but Alex just didn't like him, Barry Quinn talked about walking going postal in a hospital and hanging people up in elevators with blood coating the walls and things like that he was looking to get knocked. Alex doused Barry in contact adhesive then flicked matches at him until he lit up. He put a obituary in the paper that said "we stuck together to the end"
Minogue is scum, he knocked Alex from behind and bashed his brains out because he knew he'd never win against him, I'd like to see how long he survives after he gets out.

And the name of the place Alex was working before he got convicted was Ace Auto Accessories,

 

[EagleMan87]

Alex knocked Barry Quinn in prison not Dennis Allen, people give a lot of reasons for it but Alex just didn't like him, Barry Quinn talked about walking going postal in a hospital and hanging people up in elevators with blood coating the walls and things like that he was looking to get knocked. Alex doused Barry in contact adhesive then flicked matches at him until he lit up. He put a obituary in the paper that said "we stuck together to the end"
Minogue is scum, he knocked Alex from behind and bashed his brains out because he knew he'd never win against him, I'd like to see how long he survives after he gets out.

And the name of the place Alex was working before he got convicted was Ace Auto Accessories,

Very true, but Tsakmakis was so much worse. Little prick deserved everything he got.

 

[Jimmy Durden]

I know he was a bad guy, but all I remember of him was when I was little and he used to come over to our house and he'd always bring me lollies and things like that.

 

[skilts]

Alex knocked Barry Quinn in prison not Dennis Allen, people give a lot of reasons for it but Alex just didn't like him, Barry Quinn talked about walking going postal in a hospital and hanging people up in elevators with blood coating the walls and things like that he was looking to get knocked. Alex doused Barry in contact adhesive then flicked matches at him until he lit up. He put a obituary in the paper that said "we stuck together to the end"
Minogue is scum, he knocked Alex from behind and bashed his brains out because he knew he'd never win against him, I'd like to see how long he survives after he gets out.

And the name of the place Alex was working before he got convicted was Ace Auto Accessories,

Apparently, the night before Quinn was topped by Tsakmakis, there was a film on TV showing a rape scene. Quinn made some smartarsed comment about the fact that some thug had turned up on Tsakmakis's doorstep (while Alex was in gaol) and r*ped his (Alex's) girlfriend.

Tsakmakis waited until the next morning and basically did what Jimmy Durden has said. There were a couple of differences though to what he has said, in the account given at the coroner's court. One was that Tsakmakis had tied the matches together with rubber bands (about five at a time) and flicked them along the matchbox at Quinn, after squirting the accelerant over him. As the screws tried to put out the burning Barry Quinn, Tsakmakis played 'Light My Fire' on the guitar.

The reason Minogue topped Tsakmakis was that Tsakmakis was threatening Minogue's life, because Alex wanted to be the kingpin (i.e. the major drug dealer) in Pentridge. Minogue was doing a 33 year stretch and if he'd let Tsakmakis ride roughshod over him, his life would have been unbearable, even if Tsakmakis hadn't succeeded in killing him. Tsakmakis feared Minogue because he was just as hard a man as he was.

Minogue was convicted of the murder of Tsakmakis and yet received no further gaol time for the offence.

Edit: I've sent a PM to Jimmy Durden in the hope either he or his dad will talk to me. If you read this Jimmy, check your emails.

 

[mark73]

I was under the impression that Dennis Allen died of heart failure, due to his heavy heroin abuse.

That is actually what happened. Not sure where the other bloke was getting his information from. It's also a bit rich to say Minogue attacked Tsakmakis from behind because he was afraid of him. There may have been people inside who feared Tsakmakis, but Minogue wasn't one of them. He just wanted him out of the way. Im pretty sure I read somewhere that there were actually a few in on Quinn's murder.

 

[mark73]

Alex knocked Barry Quinn in prison not Dennis Allen, people give a lot of reasons for it but Alex just didn't like him, Barry Quinn talked about walking going postal in a hospital and hanging people up in elevators with blood coating the walls and things like that he was looking to get knocked. Alex doused Barry in contact adhesive then flicked matches at him until he lit up. He put a obituary in the paper that said "we stuck together to the end"
Minogue is scum, he knocked Alex from behind and bashed his brains out because he knew he'd never win against him, I'd like to see how long he survives after he gets out.

And the name of the place Alex was working before he got convicted was Ace Auto Accessories,

If it wasn't Tsakmakis it would've eventually been someone else. He was a hated man in prison. An arseh*le of the highest order.

 

[The OBSTacle]

If it wasn't Tsakmakis it would've eventually been someone else. He was a hated man in prison. An arseh*le of the highest order.

Mark is on the money with Tsakmakis. Tsakmakis was a sneak go merchant and Minogue, knowing Tsakmakis had it in for him, got in first.

Allens drug of choice was meth, not smack.

 

[Jimmy Durden]

Dennis Allen what does he have to do with anything just some random junky dog, Barry Quin was the bloke Alex knocked. And Dad says he never heard about the guitar thing, it's probably an exageration,

 

[skilts]

Dennis Allen what does he have to do with anything just some random junky dog, Barry Quin was the bloke Alex knocked. And Dad says he never heard about the guitar thing, it's probably an exageration,

This information comes from the evidence given by one of the screws who was in the wing when the incident occured. It was presented at the Coroner's Inquest into Quinn's death. If you doubt me, I have a transcript of those proceedings. If you doubt the screw, I'd suggest it would be highly unlikely that a screw would have the imagination to make up something like that.

You are right about Allen being in no way involved.

 

[skilts]

If it wasn't Tsakmakis it would've eventually been someone else. He was a hated man in prison. An arseh*le of the highest order.

I've not heard this. That is not to say you're wrong, I just haven't heard it, though I don't pretend to be any expert on him. Are you able to tell me why Quinn was so hated?

 

[cammo84]

You have to take Chopper Read's words with a grain of salt, but he has this to say about Quinn:

"In relation to Barry Quinn, unlike a lot of people I didn't like the little numbskull. He was a coward, a liar, junkie and a jail cat, slang meaning he indulged in homosexual conduct behind prison walls. He had a longstanding love affair with a famous, now dead, Pentridge drag queen, Rhonda Rock Jaw, when the two of them were in B Division in 1975-76.

I would describe Quinn's death as one of the more welcome fires Pentridge has had, and if Tsakmakis could be remembered for anything even closely resembling an act of Christian decency, then putting an end to Quinn would be it."

He goes on to say "He couldn't punch his way out of a ****ters' tea party. I would only describe him as a lace hankie with a Charles Manson fixation" and "he was a two bob cheap little arse wipe".

(Copied from "Chopper From The Inside")

So it's safe to say, Tsakmakis wasn't the only one who had it in for him...

 

[skilts]

You have to take Chopper Read's words with a grain of salt, but he has this to say about Quinn:

"In relation to Barry Quinn, unlike a lot of people I didn't like the little numbskull. He was a coward, a liar, junkie and a jail cat, slang meaning he indulged in homosexual conduct behind prison walls. He had a longstanding love affair with a famous, now dead, Pentridge drag queen, Rhonda Rock Jaw, when the two of them were in B Division in 1975-76.

I would describe Quinn's death as one of the more welcome fires Pentridge has had, and if Tsakmakis could be remembered for anything even closely resembling an act of Christian decency, then putting an end to Quinn would be it."

He goes on to say "He couldn't punch his way out of a ****ters' tea party. I would only describe him as a lace hankie with a Charles Manson fixation" and "he was a two bob cheap little arse wipe".

(Copied from "Chopper From The Inside")

So it's safe to say, Tsakmakis wasn't the only one who had it in for him...

You're quite right about the grain of salt. Nothing you've quoted about Quinn here would indicate why he was so fiercely loathed. What Read has said could describe any one of 250 people in Pentridge at the time. However, it does provide some sort of an answer to my question, and thanks for that.

Edit: It could easily be argued that to taunt a bloke who was in gaol, unable to defend his girlfriend from a rape, was a dog act, even if it was Tsakmakis he was having a go at. At the very least, it ended up being a bad career move for Quinn. 'Stupid' is a word that comes to mind.

 

[obscura]

Intriguing thread. What exactly is your intention for collecting this info skilts?

 

[skilts]

Intriguing thread. What exactly is your intention for collecting this info skilts?

It's a project I've been working on for 23 years. It will either be a book, or a film script, depending on the information I gather. My road block is a lack of knowledge of Tsakmakis the person. As it now stands, his character has no depth for me and I'm finding it difficult to locate anyone who knew him who is prepared to talk about it.

Because he is such a central character to the story, without further info., the whole project founders. As I pride myself on the accuracy of what I've established so far, I can't just make it up. Anyway, if I did, I'd be exposed as a fraud, by those who do know - the people who won't talk to me.

 

[obscura]

Maybe take what characteristics you have learned about in regards to Tsakmakis and try and find a character (real-life/fiction) that has similar characteristics and model your project's character on them.