A MAN who befriended Griffith Mafia boss Pasquale Barbaro is Australia’s most wanted man.
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Graham Gene Potter was one of 33 people arrested after police uncovered the world’s biggest ecstacy haul.
However, he was released on bail and fled.
Potter is the only person arrested who has not been convicted.
His evasion of police and his close relationship with Barbaro was featured in a story on A Current Affair on Monday night.
Viewers were told that professional killers cannot leave anything to chance.
“So how’s this? On the way to a planned hit, Potter’s car breaks down with a dodgy battery and even the police tagging him and filming him can’t believe it,” viewers are told.
Potter is described as dangerous.
“He’s killed before and he should be behind bars,” a police officer interviewed for the program tells viewers.
A Current Affair shows surveillance footage captured by federal police on the episode.
“It’s the secret surveillance that captures a cold blooded murderer and his mafioso mates,” viewers are told.
“This vision and audio paints a chilling picture of how Graham Jean Potter teamed with the Calabrian Mafia.
“The Mob imported and sold huge quantities of drugs.
“Potter helped count the money and when the need arose he was the go-to gunman for anyone who got in their way.
“He’s Australia’s most wanted man.”
Viewers were told Potter was a man who was well versed in police methodology.
“He’s had a little bit of luck on the run.
“He knows how to keep low and without raising attention to himself.
“He’s violent, he’s capable of disguise, he’s very capable of evading police.”
A clearly disappointed policeman tells viewers Potter is enjoying freedom because a magistrate gave him bail and “he bailed – for good”.
Potter is wanted in relation to two botched murders.
Viewers are shown surveillance of Potter in a Magna.
“Seems like Potter’s in and out of the Magna driver’s door, probably trying to start up, but um, looks like they might still be having trouble, hasn’t started yet by the look of it,” the police officer says.
Viewers are told that Potter doesn’t know it, nor do his Mafia mates, but they have all been caught on federal police surveillance cameras.
“OK, Potter’s detached the jumper leads from the gold Commodore," the policeman adds. Viewers are told that while the footage appears to capture four mates helping each other, it’s actually a failed Mafia kill plot.
The men were on their way to murder a man when their car broke down.
Potter had been hired by Barbaro to kill an enemy the night before, but there was a hitch – “some bright spark didn’t check the battery”, viewers are told.
The Australian Federal Police discovered the murder plot by accident.
They bugged the car and all mobile phones. Police got a “hell of a shock” when the men in the car revealed a man was about to be killed in cold blood at the Reggio Calabria Club. “The operation and the man’s life were both saved by the dodgy battery. The next morning Potter and Calabria boss Barbaro turned up with two other Mafioso heavies to jumpstart the car.” The hit was aborted because the men who too scared to use Barbaro’s car, which could be traced back to him if it was seen. Viewers were told the intended victim had been in a long-running fued with Barbaro. When police uncovered the ecstacy pills in the tomato tins, there were 33 arrests. “The Calabrian Mafia in Italy wanted answers and $10 million for the ecstacy it shipped over. Barbaro was under the pump and wanted blood. He enlisted Potter.
“Rightly or wrongly Potter believe one of Mick Gatto’s best mates was responsible for tipping off police.
“Potter planned to kill the man at the wedding of Mick Gatto’s son. The kill plot at Mick Gatto’s son’s wedding was abandoned at the last minute because Potter’s getaway car yet again had mechanical problems.”
Potter was last sighted in 2014, reportedly in the Cobram area. It is believed Barbaro was planning on paying Potter $100,000 for each hit. Potter has a frightening criminal history. He was jailed for the murder of Wollongong woman Kim Barry.
This sentence earnt Potter the infamous title of “head and fingers killer”. “The murder of Kim Barry was as brutal as police have ever seen.
“Her remains were found wrapped in a dressing gown, a gown that belonged to Graham Jean Potter.”
Potter murdered the 19-year-old in 1980 on his buck’s night.
“In his flat later he cut off her head and fingers and hid the body,” viewers were told.” Potter told police two men burst into his unit and killed Miss Barry.
He said the men forced him to dispose of the body.
Potter was jailed for 19 years but only served 16.
“He moved to Tasmania and immersed himself in the drugs trade then he moved to the mainland and made a friend – Pasquale Barbaro.”
A $100,000 reward is on offer for information that leads to the arrest of Potter.
Anyone with information that could lead to his arrest should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.