Joseph Acquaro
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Joseph Acquaro | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1961 or 1962 |
| Died | (aged 54) |
| Occupations | Lawyer and Businessman |
| Known for | Former president of Melbourne's Italian Chamber of Commerce and the Reggio Calabria Club |
Joseph Acquaro, also known as Joe Acquaro or Pino, was a Melbourne lawyer, businessman, and former president of Melbourne's Italian Chamber of Commerce and the Reggio Calabria Club. He was shot to death on 15 March 2016 at the age of 54.[1]
Police investigations suggested that Acquaro had been the target of a contract killing allegedly linked to figures in Melbourne’s criminal underworld. He had previously represented clients with suspected mafia associations, but later provided information to law enforcement, which may have made him a target.[1]
Incidents
In June 2015, 8 months before he was killed, Acquaro was warned by Victoria Police that his life was in grave danger and needed to ensure his own safety.[3]
On 23 January 2016, about 2 months before he was killed, Acquaro's ice cream and Italian cake shop Gelobar was severely damaged in a suspicious fire which police later stated that they do not believe is related to his murder.[3][4]
Death
After closing his ice cream and Italian cake shop Gelobar in Brunswick East at about 12:40 in the morning of 15 March 2016 Acquaro was shot whilst walking to his car. His body was found at 3:00 that morning and was described at the time as a targeted attack. Before his murder police suspected that a $200,000 bounty, later increased to $500,000, had been placed on Acquaro's life. After Acquaro's death a suppression order related to a defamation case submitted by Antonio 'Tony' Madafferi against Nick McKenzie and Fairfax was lifted allowing information about Madafferi, Acquaro and the alleged contract to be made public. Madafferi vehemently denied the allegation of a contract on Acquaro.[1][5]
On 17 March 2017 it was announced that the Homicide squad of Victoria Police would work with the Purana taskforce to investigate Acquaro's murder.[1]
