Overview

• The Victorian Office of Public Prosecutions formally abandoned the murder charge against Vincenzo Crupi for the 2016 killing of Joseph 'Pino' Acquaro.
• The decision followed a committee review led by Director of Public Prosecutions Brendan Kissane, with considerations of public interest and likelihood of conviction.
• The case was delayed for years due to legal disputes over the disclosure of a protected police informer's identity, culminating in a 2024 High Court ruling to keep the identity secret.
• Joseph Acquaro, a lawyer with ties to Melbourne's underworld, was shot outside his East Brunswick gelato shop in March 2016, sparking speculation about his rumored role as a police informant.
• Crupi, who maintained his innocence, is expected to seek legal costs after the case's collapse, which echoes broader controversies over police reliance on informers in organized crime cases.