‘I tried everything I could’: Daughter’s tears as Mafia-linked fruiterer farwelled

The daughter of mafia-linked figure John Latorre has broken down at his funeral, promising she “tried everything [she] could” to save him the morning of his murder.

The daughter of John Latorre, the Melbourne underworld figure gunned down in his driveway, has shared tragic new details about the moments after he was shot.

In a packed out funeral service, Latorre was remembered as “a man of honour, respect and generosity”, and his daughter said she did “everything she could” to save him after his execution-style murder.

Family embraced and wept as they processed into the church, decked out in head-to-toe black for the sombre affair.

St Monica’s Catholic Church was filled with mourners for John Latorre’s funeral. Picture: Newswire

John Latorre's daughter Antoinette revealed she was the family member who found his body, telling mourners she did "everything I could" to save him.

As hundreds of mourners filled up the pews at St Monica’s Catholic Church in Moonee Ponds, Latorre’s flower-heaped casket was displayed at the front of the church, complete with a floral wreath and framed picture of Latorre.

A heart-shaped flower tribute was also placed at the front, spelling out ‘Nonno’ in red lettering, while hymns played in the background in both English and Italian.

John Latorre, the Melbourne fruiterer gunned down in his driveway, has been remembered by family at his funeral. Picture: Newswire

Fruiterer John Latorre, (left) was gunned down in Greenvale on March 12, was well-known in the produce industry. Picture: Supplied.

Latorre’s wife Maria and daughter Antoinette shared the roles of the Catholic death rites, including sprinkling the casket with water and lighting the memory candle.

Delivering the eulogy, Antoinette said her dad was a “pillar of strength”.

“Latorre in Italian translates to ‘the tower’ and Dad, that’s what you’ll always be,” she said.

“My beautiful and amazing dad, I cannot fathom that you are no longer here with us – it was not your time to go.

“I want you to know I tried everything I could that morning to help you. I was right by you as you are with me.

“My courage and strength came from you that day – we will always remember you and say your name, you will never be forgotten.

“You were a man of honour, respect and generosity. You taught us the importance of family. You told us we are strong and to hold our heads high.”

The service was packed out, with mourners squished in to the church. Picture: Newswire

Latorre’s other daughter, Melina, broke down in tears when delivering her eulogy and said she had “never felt such pain” and her heart was “broken beyond repair”.

“You taught us the value of respecting our family and friends from such a young age, which I truly believe has become a part of who we are,” she said.

“You were a big softie deep down and would do anything for us.

“Not a day will go by when we don’t look at your photo and talk to you.”

Mourners are seen arriving to the funeral of John Latorre in Moonee Ponds, Picture: NCA NewsWire

Father Joe Giacobbe gave the introduction to the mass and said in addition to formal tributes like eulogies, a clear tribute to Latorre was the sheer number of people attending the funeral.

“If you want a tribute to the gentleman, look around,” he said.

“This is a pretty big church and it’s full, at probably twice its capacity.”

A second introduction and opening prayers were also said in Italian, including a series of Ave Maria thanksgiving prayers.

John Latorre was gunned down in the driveway of his home. Picture: NCA NewsWire

Latorre was a fruiterer who had been a stalwart at the Melbourne Markets in Epping.

At about 4.30am on March 12, he was peppered with gunshots to the upper body in the driveway of his Greenvale home as he left for work.

Instantly killed, his bloodied body was discovered shortly after by a horrified family member.

It is understood a small motorcycle was the getaway vehicle for the murderer, with police intelligence suggesting the bike that “made a loud noise” was seen near Latorre’s Buchanan Place home around the time of the killing.

Police continue to investigate any organised crime links in the shooting.

Noone has been charged in relation to his death and police are still searching for his killer.

Police comforted Latorre’s family after he was murdered out the front of his Greenvale housel. PICTURE: NCA Newswire / Nicki Connolly

John Latorre’s family fought back tears as they left his funeral in Moonee Ponds on Saturday. Picture: NCA NewsWire

His coffin was carried out by loved ones as the huge crowd of mourners stood by. Picture: NCA NewsWire

The Herald Sun previously reported Latorre’s murder contract would have needed the go-ahead from the mafia’s top kingpins, suggesting it may have been a fly-in-fly-out type of job.

Multiple sources confirmed to the same masthead that there was no way the murder of someone as high-status as Latorre could have happened without sanction from the bosses at the Honoured Society.

Detectives are piecing together the circumstances surrounding the hit job and continue to appeal for any information relating to the murder.

Originally published as ‘I tried everything I could’: Daughter’s tears as Mafia-linked fruiterer farwelled