Lawyers for a man charged with murdering high-profile gangland lawyer Joe Acquaro have asked a Melbourne court to access "sensitive" materials.
Vincenzo Crupi, 70, faced Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday via video link after he allegedly gunned down the 54-year-old lawyer outside a Brunswick East cafe on March 15, 2016.
The Reservoir man's arrest came after a lengthy police investigation.
Mr Acquaro was shot dead as he walked to his car after closing his Gelobar cafe on Lygon Street.
His body was later found by a rubbish truck driver.
Crupi has been charged with one count of murder.
Mr Acquaro had represented a number of high-profile gangland figures in Melbourne.
He also had strong ties with Melbourne's Calabrian community and had been president of Melbourne's Italian Chamber of Commerce and the Reggio Calabria Club.
Lawyers on Monday were told materials they had requested are being used in "other proceedings" and it may be "a long time" before they could be granted access.
Magistrate Suzanne Cameron noted she and the legal counsel were speaking in "riddles" due to the "sensitivities" over the other legal proceedings.
The court was told Crupi's defence team wished to cross-examine 19 witnesses at an upcoming committal hearing.
The matter was adjourned to April 17 for a further committal mention, with Crupi remanded in custody.
Australian Associated Press
