Mafia lawyer’s alleged killer demanded money one year after Joe Acquaro was shot dead
The man accused of murdering a gangland lawyer outside his Brunswick restaurant returned to the venue a year later to demand money from the slain man’s father and son, a court has heard.
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The man accused of murdering a gangland lawyer outside his Brunswick restaurant returned to the venue a year later to demand money from the slain man’s father and son, a court has heard.
Prosecutors have argued the deadly March 2016 shooting of mafia lawyer Joe “Pino” Acquaro was motivated by a $500 business dispute between him and disgruntled contractor Vincenzo Crupi who he also suspected of setting fire to his restaurant.
Earlier, it was revealed Mr Acquaro, 54, had punched and slapped Mr Crupi just weeks before he was executed as he walked to his car shortly before 1am.
On the second day of a week-long committal, the court heard Mr Crupi twice visited the Lygon St eatery, Gelobar, in late 2017 requesting payment for labouring work he had completed for Mr Acquaro.
Head chef Victor Guergues gave evidence the 70-year-old claimed he had been arrested by police over the arson attack but was “a good man” and had nothing to do with a suspicious blaze which gutted the upstairs of the venue less than two months before Mr Acquaro’s death.
During a second visit to the restaurant the accused murderer came face-to-face with Mr Acquaro’s father, Alfredo Senior, and son, Alfred Junior.
Mr Acquaro Snr had taken over the Gelobar business following the death of his son.
Mr Guergues told the court on Tuesday he introduced Mr Crupi and later told his new boss the man may have been involved in the fire.
“(Alfredo Snr) said ‘what is he doing here … tell him to leave or I will call the police,’” Mr Guergues said.
Later, Mr Crupi approached Mr Guergues insisting he was owed money, the court heard.
“ (Crupi) asked me who was in charge and who he should ask for the money,” he said.
Mr Crupi eventually left empty-handed.
Mr Guergues said he first met Mr Acquaro while working at the Reggio Calabria Club of which the well-known Melbourne solicitor later became president.
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Mr Acquaro represented members of Melbourne’s underworld, including convicted drug trafficker Francesco Madafferi and underworld identity Rocco Arico.
The court heard the father of three knew he was a marked man in the weeks leading up to his death, telling workers at Gelobar never to walk behind him on the street because the “mafia” were out to get him.
But Mr Guergues said his boss and good friend did not appear overtly concerned or fearful.
“(He) was a very good man and would do anything he could to help you,
“He cared for people with all his heart,” he said.
The hearing continues.