A man charged over the murder of mafia lawyer Joseph "Pino" Acquaro, who was gunned down near his Brunswick East cafe two years ago, has remained in his cell and refused to face court.
Homicide squad detectives charged 69-year-old Vincent Crupi from Reservoir on Friday in relation to Mr Acquaro's death in 2016.
Mr Crupi was arrested in Ringwood about 9.45am on Friday, following an extensive investigation, police said.
He was charged with one count of murder.
Mr Crupi refused to leave his courthouse cell and appear at the Magistrates Court hearing on Friday afternoon, hours after he was arrested.
His lawyer Trieu Huynh requested Friday’s application be heard in his absence and asked that the 69-year-old be seen by a doctor “matter of urgencyâ€.
“He doesn’t wish to come up,†Mr Huynh said.
