John Silvester Google+
John Silvester is a Walkley-award winning crime writer and columnist. A co-author of the best-selling books that formed the basis of the hit Australian TV series Underbelly, Silvester is also a regular guest on 3AW with his "Sly of the Underworld" segment.
I infiltrated the Mafia - but at a terrible cost
John Silvester There were substantial differences between the two investigations. Pistone was of Sicilian heritage and spoke fluent Italian.
The real life version of CSI - experts open up on the secrets of the dead
John Silvester This is the real world of CSI, minus the designer heels, make-up and scripted one-liners.
Mild-mannered and bespectacled, George Williams was 'smart enough to play dumb'
John Silvester Death of Carl Williams' father from a suspected heart attack marks the end of a crime dynasty.
Underbelly: The secret backroom deals that cracked Melbourne's gangland war
John Silvester "I'm a pragmatist. If we didn't do some deals we would not have got anywhere."
Nailed, bailed, jailed then derailed. The bush plot that cost a man his country
John Silvester While on bail he decided to disappear. So where would an Australian resident of German descent decide to hide? India, of course.
George Germanos knew he was in the gun, but who pulled the trigger?
John Silvester A string of violent deaths and clever robberies seem connected, but the man who might be able to explain how is no longer available for interrogation.
Former police to help investigate cold case murders
John Silvester Specialist police are to be brought out of retirement to complete cases they previously investigated in a radical move designed to free operational detectives to concentrate on current crimes.
Teenager wrongly branded a dangerous sex offender – how can this be justice?
John Silvester Politicians should admit that the law that puts all sex offenders on a register regardless of their risk of reoffending must be changed.
Peaceful end for Ernie Trotter, hero who put 'Chopper' Read in his place
John Silvester Court official who saved a judge from being abducted at gunpoint by notorious standover man has died aged 85.
Gangsters and guns; Kellie suffered 23 years of abuse before reclaiming her life
John Silvester The biggest question in the national scandal that is family violence is why do women stay with men who are monsters?
Bombers, contract killers and the stress of policing – a top cop tells
John Silvester Veteran Inspector Bernie Rankin is hanging up his handcuffs after 42 years on the beat.
Melbourne riot: Gang violence calls for 'carrot and stick' response
John Silvester "Gang violence on our streets is unacceptable and we must take strong action - senior police vow."
The bloke who chases the crooks: inside the anti-ganglands Purana taskforce
John Silvester The Purana taskforce has a message for Melbourne’s gangsters.
The day terror came to Melbourne: The Russell Street Bombing 30 years on and the murder of Angela Taylor
John Silvester In the moments before the massive blast, hundreds of people on one of the Melbourne's busiest streets made decisions that would decide their future.
A story that matters – how a young reporter helped solve a murder
John Silvester Catching Michelle Buckingham's killer decades after her death shows the nature of journalism may have changed but the quality has not.
Paul Higgins - a policeman who took secrets to the grave
John Silvester As a detective Paul William Higgins was tough, brave and ruthless. He received a record 11 commendations before he became the target of Australia's longest running corruption investigation and was...
We must invest now in elite detectives or cop the consequences
John Silvester Victoria needs more detectives to nip organised crime in the bud before it expands to do real harm.
Ken Judge - much more than a footy person
John Silvester After being hauled over the coals for not drinking the sponsor's product Ken Judge continued to imbibe his beer of choice.
Crooks go fast, cops go slow, kids are terrorists but there still is justice
John Silvester As the year begins to wind down it is time to reflect on the defining moments in law enforcement and matters underworld. It is effectively a Christmas wrap on criminal raps.
Can police culture change? Yes, but not without a few blues
John Silvester Trying to change police culture is a little like invading Mother Russia. You can make positive inroads in the beginning before getting bogged up to the axles.
