Police to reveal if mob lawyer Joseph Acquaro was an informant

Two mafia figures have won a court battle to reveal if their lawyer – who was murdered on Lygon St in 2016 – was snitching on them.

Joseph Acquaro was shot dead outside his Brunswick restaurant in 2016. Picture: Ian Currie

Victoria Police will be forced to reveal whether mob lawyer Joseph “Pino” Acquaro was working as an informer.

The Court of Appeal ruling was handed down on Tuesday after mafia figures Frank Madafferi and Saverio Zirilli fought to learn whether the murdered solicitor, who was once their lawyer, was snitching on them.

Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton attempted to stop any revelation about Acquaro’s status as a supergrass on public interest immunity grounds.

“The judgement of the court is that, to the extent that the Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police makes application for an order that the existence or non-existence of information pertaining to whether or not Joseph Acquaro was or was not a police informer is subject to public interest immunity, that application is refused,” the court said.

Joseph Acquaro acted as a lawyer for Frank Madefferi and Saverio Zirilli.

Acquaro, who was shot dead in 2016 outside his Lygon St restaurant, Gelobar, in Brunswick East, was dealing with police at some point before his death.

But it is not publicly known against who or the extent of Acquaro’s information provided to police.

But the force, as it did with barrister turned registered informer Nicola Gobbo, attempted to stop any disclosure of its dealings with Acquaro.

It has stated it does not ‘’confirm or deny" the existence of informers.

Police have been involved in largely closed court hearings since last year to resist revealing Acquaro’s status.

And in an extra sting, not only did the chief commissioner lose the public interest immunity battle relating to Acquaro, it may be told to pay costs.

The nightmare scenario unfolding is ongoing court battles to unravel the impact of both Gobbo and Acquaro as informers.

Of interest to both Zirilli and Madafferi is whether Acquaro had any involvement with police which impacted the infamous “Tomato Tins” trials.

Other members of the “Tomato Tins” syndicate have also launched appeals.

The Herald Sun understands Victoria Police officers briefed the Acquaro family about the implications of the decision after receiving the ruling last week.