Judge finds prosecution case against Bartolomeo ‘Alex’ Rapisarda insufficient to support a finding of guilt

A man who was on trial for the murder of his friend in a shed in Baxter, southeast of Melbourne, has been found to have no case to answer.

Bartolomeo ‘Alex’ Rapisarda was on trial in the Supreme Court charged with the murder of Dennis Pollock. Picture: Brendan Beckett

A man accused of shooting his friend in the back of the head to inherit a $550k estate has walked free from court after a judge found he had no case to answer.

Bartolomeo ‘Alex’ Rapisarda was on trial in the Supreme Court charged with the murder of Dennis Pollock, 64, whose body was found slumped in a shed in Baxter, southeast of Melbourne, from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot.

Mr Rapisarda’s trial began more than two weeks ago, but on Thursday his lawyers made a no case to answer submission which was accepted by Justice Jane Dixon who directed a finding of not guilty be entered on his murder charge.

A no case to answer ruling occurs when a judge finds the prosecution case is insufficient to support a finding of guilt.

Mr Rapisarda’s trial began more than two weeks ago. Picture: Brendan Beckett

Mr Rapisarda called paramedics from the home where he lived with owner Dennis Pollock, claiming his friend had been suicidal and shot himself dead on September 16, 2017.

But prosecutors alleged Mr Pollock’s death was murder, motivated by financial gain as Mr Rapisarda had mounting debt and stood to inherit his property.

The two men had met years earlier through Mr Pollock’s late wife, with Mr Rapisarda agreeing to pay bills and do upkeep on his property in return for being allowed to live there with his own wife and daughter.

A year before his death, Mr Pollock amended his will to hand his house and $200k in superannuation to Mr Rapisarda in the event of his death.