A man who allegedly murdered Joe Acquaro had been fighting with him about a $500 debt and a deliberately-lit fire at the gangland lawyer's Melbourne cafe.
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Vincenzo Crupi, 70, is charged with murdering the 54-year-old, shot dead as he walked to his car after closing his Gelobar cafe on March 15, 2016.
The accused killer allegedly set fire to Mr Acquaro's cafe almost two months beforehand over a money dispute, according to documents released by Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday.
Crupi had done tiling work at the Lygon Street shop in exchange for free food and beer but weeks before the January 23 fire, asked Mr Acquaro for money, witness statements show.
The lawyer handed over $1000 but later refused a second request for payment.
He suspected Crupi lit the fire and, a week or so afterwards, was seen yelling at, and punching and slapping him outside Gelobar.
"Why did you do this? You put people in danger," Mr Acquaro said, according to pastry chefs who saw the altercation.
Crupi replied "I didn't do anything. I would never do stuff to you" before saying "I'm sorry" and "I will do anything to help you" when confronted about his car being captured on CCTV the night of the fire.
"Tell it to the other guys, do I owe you money?" Mr Acquaro asked.
"No," Crupi replied.
The lawyer had asked Crupi to help out at the store thinking he was an old and lonely man who needed to fill in some time, Mr Acquaro's insurance broker and friend, Tony Caruso, told police after the alleged murder.
Mr Acquaro was surprised by the request for money and later told authorities he suspected a "disgruntled contractor who felt a little bit left out of things" was behind the fire amid a dispute about $500.
Crupi had access to the shop with a key or remote, the lawyer also told his broker friend.
Mr Acquaro represented a number of high-profile gangland figures in Melbourne.
Mr Caruso told the court on Monday he had imagined his mate to be like "something out of the Godfather" due to the reputations of some of his clients.
Crupi was arrested for arson but was released four days before Mr Acquaro's death.
He told police: "I have depression especially after him, Pino (Mr Acquaro) assaulted me in front of his shop."
"(It happened) after the fire. We used to be friends," Crupi also said, according to officers.
He is due back in court on Tuesday for the second day of his committal hearing, which will determine whether he stands trial for murder.
Australian Associated Press
