Joseph Pino Acquaro: Vincenzo Crupi in court over murder at Gelobar Lygon St Brunswick East

The man accused of one of Melbourne’s most infamous murders will stand trial in the Victorian Supreme Court next year.

Gangland lawyer Joseph ‘Pino’ Acquaro was shot outside his Brunswick East gelato shop Gelobar, on Lygon St, on the morning of March 15 2016.

Maintenance worker Vincenzo Crupi, 73, has pleaded not guilty to his murder, with his defence lawyer Dermott Dann QC referring to the Crown case as “circumstantial.”

The court has heard the pair became involved in a dispute after a fire broke out in Gelobar in January 2016, with Acquaro blaming Crupi for the damage.

Crupi, who has no criminal history, was arrested and charged with murder in November 2018.

He was bailed in the Supreme Court last year as concerns grew over the “exceptional” trial delays brought on as a result of Covid-19.

Mr Acquaro’s previous clients include drug kingpin Rocco Arico, who is behind bars after being convicted of drug trafficking and extortion.

Crupi will return to the Supreme Court for another directions hearing on August 26.

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7r7HWrGWcp51jrrZ7zZqroqeelrlwwsicq6iqmZZ8pLvUq6usZZyWxHDCyKeanqaqpHqkvtSpoGaZk5jCtLHDZqafZZueua21zaBkoJmenLmiusNmo5qvqZq%2FbrbOrJypoF2ltq%2B7jJqaqq2Rp7xwusSwqmarpKS%2FunuPnJ1qnWJrhaeukWpwnGpnaX2kfsJtbXBwlGezcrHCcA%3D%3D