Nicholas Boyack12:09,
Oct 25 2019 Stuff
One of New Zealand's most
feared and
violent criminals, Leslie
Maurice Green, has died in
Auckland aged 82.
A bank robber who
always carried a gun, he
also had a fondness for
violence.
In the 1980s he was charged
but not convicted of being
part of the team behind what
was then the country's
biggest armed robbery, a
security van raid in the car
park of an Auckland
supermarket netting
$294,524.
In the 1990s, police
described him as the "most
wanted criminal" in New
Zealand after he went on a
bank robbing spree.
His death is
significant beyond ending
the career of a man who
spent much of his life on
the run or in prison.
His name has been linked to
numerous unsolved murders
and disappearances in both
Australia and New Zealand.
Green was named by
Australian police as a
suspect in the death of
Australians
Bernard Gray and Maria Fiore,
who had links to the Mr Asia
syndicate.
He was in Sydney when the
pair disappeared after
having dinner with him.
As an associate of many of
those in the Mr Asia
syndicate, Green used five
aliases during trips to
Australia.
Sources have told Stuff that
Australian police had an
interest in Green right up
to the time he died, still
hoping to solve a number of
murders linked to Mr Asia.
Green hated snitches and
would not co-operate with
police. He is rumoured to
have written a biography
outlining his career but
that has never been
confirmed.
New Zealand Police have
never formally interviewed
Green on the case of Marion
Granville who disappeared in
Naenae in 1980
Sources have told Stuff
there is little doubt that
Green was involved but there
was no evidence to charge
him.
Known as the "Old Man" by
fellow criminals, he began
offending in 1954 at the age
of 17.
Born in February 16, 1937,
he spent his early life on
the West Coast before
embarking on a life of
crime.
Green had at least least 49
convictions and was
sentenced to 119 years in
jail, serving about 30.
Although he was safe cracker
and burglar he became a
well-known name as
a bank robber after going on
a spree that netted him
$550,000.
Using a silver-barrelled .44
Magnum handgun he pled
guilty when caught and was
sentenced to 20 years jail.
In recent years he settled
down to a solitary life in
Auckland, riding a bike and
refusing interviews with
media.
His death was reported by
fellow career criminal
Arthur Taylor who visited
him in his Auckland home and
found him suffering from
malnutrition.
