The gangster uncle of Kanye West’s wife Bianca Censori is contemplating peace talks with lawyers acting on behalf of Victoria Police in an effort to avoid a costly jury trial.
Eris Censori, who was once sentenced to death in Western Australia for murdering a waiter, was dubbed the ‘Al Capone of Melbourne‘ before his life of crime crumbled.
Daily Mail Australia revealed in May the notorious criminal faced being thrown back in jail for life after he was caught up in a police raid while living in the same house as a suspected paedophile.
Although cleared of any wrongdoing, the bust saw Censori hauled before the Adult Parole Board where he faced being returned to jail to see out his life sentence.
In a statement of claim filed against the State of Victoria with the Supreme Court of Victoria, Censori alleged the search that put him in front of the parole board was obtained ‘through misfeasance and in the absence of facts’.
It can now be revealed lawyers acting on behalf of Censori are interested in meeting with those acting for the State of Victoria, which is acting on behalf of Victoria Police.
The parties have agreed to discuss a possible mediation session, which will be the subject of a Supreme Court of Victoria hearing listed for August next year.
The cause of the lengthy delay for that preliminary directions hearing remains unclear.
Kanye West ‘s wife Bianca Censori’s uncle was previously sentenced to death and lives his life on parole
Should mediation fail, the matter will progress to a full jury trial listed for September 15.
That trial will see the reclusive Censori finally forced to front court in person.
He has remained unseen throughout most of the recent court proceedings, in which he has come under fire for delaying the process.
During a hearing last month, the court heard the matter was at risk of being terminated if Censori continued to delay proceedings, which began in August last year.
Censori had been arrested by Victoria Police detectives in September 2020 on suspicion of fraud.
But the discovery of a mobile phone belonging to his housemate – which allegedly contained child pornography – threatened to put him back behind bars for good.
Censori – who has changed his name to Tony Campana – claimed his arrest ‘defamed’ his good character and ’caused him to suffer public ridicule, shame and scorn’.
The court heard Censori had originally represented himself in court, but quickly chose to find a legal team.
Although now represented by a barrister, the court heard Censori had failed to comply with orders made on July 17 for him to amend his statement of claim.
‘That hasn’t happened,’ Censori’s barrister Tim Sowden told the court then.
No reasons were offered for the cause of the delay, with Mr Sowden suggesting his client would comply with the orders.
Eris Censori (right) and his brother Leo, who is the father of Kanye West’s wife Bianca
Leo Censori’s ex-wife blew the whistle on his life of crime in 1991 in Melbourne’s Herald Sun
Bianca Censori is the daughter of a former criminal and the niece of a ruthless killer
Censori’s niece has made worldwide headlines this week amid claims she was on the verge of splitting with her famous husband.
The couple’s relationship appeared to be on the rocks on Monday when multiple reports revealed they had been spending time apart in recent months, with an insider telling DailyMail.com that Bianca had stated that the pair had been ‘drifting’ apart.
However, the rapper, 47, and the Australian beauty, 29, appeared to confirm they were still together as they were pictured packing on the PDA as they reunited in Tokyo on Tuesday.
The architectural designer’s close circle had been left confused by her decision to claim that the couple were on the rocks.
‘Kanye and Bianca were responsible for the news that they were divorcing getting out there because this is what they both told people,’ a source exclusively revealed to DailyMail.com.
TMZ reported that the musician had been telling friends he is done with Bianca and wanted to be single while spending time in Japan.
Meanwhile, sources close to the Australian had revealed to DailyMail that she had been sharing the same news to loved ones during her recent visit to her homeland – though the insider did note that ‘there is a chance they’ll reunite’.
The source continued: ‘She told her friends in Australia and he told anyone that was willing to listen.’
Insiders have now stated the pair may have pulled the move for attention as the source added: ‘They knew that, by doing this, it would create some buzz and make them relevant as he tries to promote his new album.
‘They both know that people are just over them and that her naked outfits are not enough to keep people interested. Everyone has seen her naked now there is nothing to wonder about.’
Kanye West and Bianca Censori. Bianca’s uncle was sentenced to die before having it overturned
Bianca’s dad Leo Censori was a gambling kingpin who did hard time over a heroin bust
Censori’s uncle tasted fame for all the wrong reasons in the 1980s when he was convicted of murder.
He escaped his death penalty for murdering waiter Michael Sideris because capital punishment was abolished in Western Australia in 1984 before he could be executed.
He is the brother of Bianca’s father Elia ‘Leo’ Censori, who also did hard jail time after being convicted in 1982 on a charge of possessing a prohibited import after an Australian Federal Police raid found heroin in his kitchen.
Daily Mail Australia last year revealed Leo also has convictions for possession of a pistol and ammunition and served two years of his five-year sentence over the drug charges.
Their eldest brother, Edmondo, known as ‘Eddie Capone’, also has convictions in Victoria for violence, including assaulting police, theft and threats.
In documents provided to the court, Bianca’s uncle claimed police used his sale of a Brunswick property to obtain the search warrant under the guise of investigating an alleged fraud against the Bank of Queensland.
At the time of his arrest, Censori had been rooming in Bulleen, north-east of Melbourne, with two other men.
‘(Censori) was in his bedroom which had a window view of the front courtyard, when he noticed the gate open and an accompaniment of six large men entered all armed with handguns,’ documents stated.
‘(He) immediately suspected the accompaniment were members of Victoria Police. The thought filled him with apprehension.’
Police had alleged the Brunswick property he sold had been purchased off him with fraudulently-obtained funds.
‘I think you’ve made a mistake. I am the vendor. I didn’t raise any money with any bank,’ Censori told the detectives.
Rapper Kanye West moved on with Bianca Censori after his split with Kim Kardashian
Escorted to his bedroom, Censori claimed cops asked him to hand over documents related to the sale before being asked for access to his phone and computer.
‘Towards the completion of the search, (Censori) was shown a mobile phone retrieved from the bedroom of another occupant and asked questions about the occupier of the said bedroom and contents of the mobile phone,’ documents stated.
Censori claimed the lead detective told him he was aware of his criminal conviction for murder, that he had served a lengthy prison sentence, and that he was still reporting to the parole board 25 years after his release.
‘Any criminal charges, even the allegation of being involved in crime, could result in a breach of parole, resulting in me being returned to prison and ultimately deported,’ he told the detective.
At the conclusion of the search, Censori claimed he was handcuffed and paraded in front of his neighbours before being taken to the police station to be interviewed.
After being fingerprinted and grilled by police, Censori was cut loose without charge.
Censori claimed the parole board caught up with him in January 2021 where he was grilled about his relationship with the suspected paedophile.
Censori claimed he told the board he had no relationship with his housemate, known as ‘Mohamed’, and knew nothing of the contents of his phone.
In bringing the matter to court, Censori claimed the lead detective ‘displayed contumelious [scornful] disregard for [his] right to privacy and freedom, inflicting harm with malice’.
