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Slain gangster spat in wife’s face

SLAIN gangster Pasquale Barbaro violently assaulted his estranged wife in an elevator grabbing her by the throat and spitting in her face in a sickening attack earlier this year.

Barbaro phone call

SLAIN gangster Pasquale Barbaro violently assaulted his estranged wife in an elevator grabbing her by the throat and spitting in her face in a sickening attack earlier this year.

The Daily Telegraph can also reveal Barbaro had been diagnosed with bipolar and was taking medication for it.

The new details of crimes committed by Barbaro in the months leading up to his death come after The Daily Telegraph exposed how the courts allowed the mafia standover man to inflict a three-year reign of terror on Sydney without having his bail revoked.

Crime scene officers in the street, following the gangster’s death.
Crime scene officers in the street, following the gangster’s death.
Sydney underworld identity Pasquale Barbaro was murdered in Earlwood earlier this month.
Sydney underworld identity Pasquale Barbaro was murdered in Earlwood earlier this month.

In an incident at the Leichhardt Italian Forum on April 5, Barbaro violently assaulted his estranged wife Melinda.

According to court documents seen by The Daily Telegraph, the pair had met at the forum because Barbaro owed Melinda money.

The documents state the pair had entered into a heated argument when Barbaro “moved towards (Melinda’s) head using his right hand” and “dragged” and “used the hold he had on her” to push her inside.

She fell into the elevator and Barbaro used his right foot to push her up against the wall.

Melinda was “crouched” as Barbaro stood over her shouting, calling her a “whore and other similar derogatory terms”. He spat in her face and shouted at her for a full two minutes, before spitting at her twice more.

A burnt out car, believed linked to the fatal shooting.  Bill Hearne
A burnt out car, believed linked to the fatal shooting. Bill Hearne

When the elevator opened Barbaro moved towards the exit, before rushing back and grabbing the mother-of-two by the throat with his right hand.

The incident lasted about six minutes and ended when Barbaro got out of the elevator. The incident was reported to police and Barbaro was arrested and taken to Glebe police station the next day. She said she believed he would assault her again. Police verified the incident through CCTV.

The case was settled in the Downing Centre Local Court in September, when Barbaro was sentenced to 150 hours community service.

Despite being on bail at the time for a 2012 drug manufacturing charge, Barbaro’s bail was not revoked.

The condition of his bail was to “be of good behaviour” and not commit a single offence.

Police applied for a domestic violence restraining order against Barbaro on Melinda’s behalf, in July that stated he must not go within 100 metres of her premises. It also stated he was not to “assault, molest, harass, threaten or otherwise interfere with” her.

Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/slain-gangster-spat-in-wifes-face/news-story/8521de13422e43470d9da5b28bcd2bd0