Melbourne gangland lawyer Joe Acquaro farewelled at St Mary’s Star of the Sea Catholic Church in West Melbourne

PICTURES: A MELBOURNE gangland lawyer gunned down in an execution-style hit has been farewelled at a packed service.

A mourner carries a booklet from the service. Picture: Ian Currie

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A MELBOURNE gangland lawyer gunned down in an execution-style hit has been farewelled by family, friends and clients at a packed service.

Joseph ‘Pino’ Acquaro, 55, was shot dead while walking to his car near the corner of Lygon Street after closing his Gelobar cafe in the early hours of Tuesday last week.

His body was later found by a rubbish truck driver.

Mr Acquaro’s family arrived in a convoy of Rolls Royces for the funeral service at St Mary’s Star of the Sea Catholic Church in West Melbourne.

A vocalist sang Ave Maria as more than 700 people — including alleged mafia heavyweight Rocco Arico — crammed the church.

At the end of the service, applause rang out as the casket was taken from the church.

A picture of Mr Acquaro from the order of service at his funeral. Picture: AAP/Julian Smith

Mourners embrace at St. Mary's Star of the Sea in West Melbourne. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Joe Acquaro's coffin is taken into the church. Picture: Ian Currie

Mr Acquaro’s partner, Marisa Di Liso, sat about ten rows back from the front and took no formal part in the service. His last client, Rocco Arico, also paid his respects.

The slain lawyer’s estranged sons Alfredo, Adriano and Alessio each read a psalm.

Brother Massimo recalled their shared humour and described his sibling as “a second father” to him.

“I should not be here. We should not be here,” he said.

He spoke of how his brother’s death was a tragic event they could learn from.

Mr Acquaro’s wife Joy’s written tribute was read aloud, recounting a romance that began with a Grade Prep crush.

The pair lived in the same Footscray street, and even swapped universities to be together.

Legal contemporary Michael McNamara spoke of Mr Acquaro’s generosity.

He said Mr Acquaro would insist on buying coffee and trying to pay for anything was near impossible.

Mr Acquaro will be buried in Yarraville.

Mourners arrive for the funeral for underworld lawyer Joe Acquaro. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

A framed portrait of Mr Acquaro is held up by a mourner to applause. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

The coffin is carried from the church by family members. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Accused mafia heavyweight Rocco Arico arrives at the funeral. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Arico wore a black suit. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

A mourner carries a booklet from the service. Picture: Ian Currie

Joe Acquaro’s girlfriend Marisa Di Lisio arrives at the church. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Another mourner arrives for the funeral. Picture: Ian Currie

Mr Acquaro had strong ties within the Calabrian community and had been president of Melbourne’s Italian Chamber of Commerce and the Reggio Calabria Club.

He was a criminal lawyer who had represented a raft of prominent gangland figures in Victoria and had been warned by police there may be a contract on his head.

This bounty had reportedly increased to half-a-million dollars in the months before he was gunned down.

On Tuesday police said they are looking for a light-coloured ute seen driving on Barkly Street in Brunswick East about the time of the shooting, which happened just before 1am.

The ute’s lights were off and another vehicle, possibly a taxi, drove past it.

The execution-style hit on Mr Acquaro is being investigated by Victoria Police’s gangland squad, Purana Taskforce, which was set up in 2003 in response to the city’s underworld war.