Police told Melbourne businessman Tony Madafferi he would face scrutiny if Joe Acquaro was killed
Detectives told Melbourne businessman Tony Madafferi nine months ago he would be under immediate scrutiny if lawyer Joe Acquaro was murdered.
Law & Order
Don't miss out on the headlines from Law & Order. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- GUNNED DOWN: Lawyer spoke of fears
- KNEW TOO MUCH: Lawyer knew mafia secrets
- LOVER: Girlfriend mourns family man with heart of gold
- RULE: Rumours rage over mob lawyer’s death
DETECTIVES told Melbourne businessman Tony Madafferi nine months ago he would be under immediate scrutiny if lawyer Joe Acquaro was murdered.
The police warning was aired in the Supreme Court two days after Mr Acquaro died in a suspected contract killing near his East Brunswick restaurant.
Mr Madafferi’s lawyers have been trying to suppress details of the police warning and documents alleging the existence of a $200,000 murder contract, details which had been gathered as part of his defamation action against The Age newspaper.
Mr Madafferi, who police suspect is a member of Melbourne’s Calabrian mafia, denied any knowledge of the price on Mr Acquaro’s head.
The Herald Sun understands investigators are exploring the possibility there is no gangland link at all in the execution of Mr Acquaro.
Georgina Schoff, QC, for Mr Madafferi, said it would be stupid for anyone to commit a murder he was already suspected of planning.
“A man has now been murdered. Not any man — the man that the police said they suspected us of murdering right back in September, before he was even dead,’’ Ms Schoff told the court.
“That stark coincidence — that incredible coincidence of on the one hand that $200,000 contract, in Mr Madaferri’s evidence, that police accused him of having taken out on Mr Acquaro’s life, and the now murder of Mr Acquaro — it can’t but fail but excite the interest of readers.’’
Mr Madafferi, whose supermarket interests have helped him to an estimated personal worth of $50 million, has never been charged or convicted of any crime.
Mr Acquaro was a long-time lawyer for Mr Madafferi’s brother Frank, helping him avoid deportation to Italy.
But the Madafferis and Mr Acquaro had had a bitter falling out in recent years, suspecting him of leaking damaging information about the family to The Age .
