[1] Acquaro previously represented Francesco Madafferi, including helping overturn his deportation order,[2]: 260  before severing ties in recent years.

[3] In June 2015, 8 months before he was killed, Acquaro was warned by Victoria Police that his life was in grave danger and needed to ensure his own safety.

[3] On 23 January 2016, about 2 months before he was killed, Acquaro's ice cream and Italian cake shop Gelobar was severely damaged in a suspicious fire which police later stated that they do not believe is related to his murder.

[3][4] After closing his ice cream and Italian cake shop Gelobar in Brunswick East at about 12:40 in the morning of 15 March 2016 Acquaro was shot whilst walking to his car.

[1][5] On 17 March 2017 it was announced that the Homicide squad of Victoria Police would work with the Purana taskforce to investigate Acquaro's murder.