Barbaro charged with murder conspiracy

An alleged drug kingpin intended to murder two associates, only to have his plans
derailed by car problems, a court has heard.
Victorian Purana detectives charged Pasquale Barbaro, 47, of Griffith, NSW, on
Thursday with two counts of conspiracy to murder the men in Melbourne last year.
At a hearing during which police were granted approval to question Barbaro,
Detective Acting Sergeant Daniel Baulch told the Melbourne Magistrates Court the
target of the first plot was Fedele D'Amico.
Police believed an attempt was made to murder D'Amico at a boxing event at the
Docklands on March 28 last year.
Det Sgt Baulch said police believe Barbaro and an overseas criminal syndicate held
D'Amico responsible for failed attempts to import cocaine and ecstasy tablets.
They believed D'Amico had stolen the drug shipments or caused law enforcement
agencies to seize them.
Detectives also allege Barbaro and others conspired to murder a second man, whose
identity is unknown to police, at the Reggio Calabria Club in Brunswick on July 24
last year.
The alleged plots were uncovered while Barbaro and others were under surveillance by
the Australia Federal Police (AFP) over a major drug investigation, he said.
Det Sgt Baulch said Barbaro arranged a shooter, firearms, a getaway driver and
people to lure D'Amico to various locations so he could be killed.
On the night of the boxing event, Barbaro and others saw his car in the car park and
the plan was that D'Amico would be shot as he returned to it.
But the attempt was aborted when the planned getaway vehicle had mechanical trouble
and could not be relied upon, he said.
Det Sgt Baulch told the court Barbaro arranged various people, including Francesco
Madafferi, to take part in the second plot.
Madafferi, of Greenvale in Melbourne, allegedly, was to lure the intended victim to
a spot for the killing.
Barbaro had already arranged firearms and a getaway vehicle was organised.
Det Sgt Baulch told the court that on the night of the intended murder, Madafferi
was at the Reggio Calabria Club with the intended victim and contacted Barbaro to
tell him.
Barbaro then arranged for two people to go to the club with the firearms and the
getaway vehicle.
But on their way to the club the getaway vehicle broke down.
Barbaro was following the getaway vehicle in his own car and drove himself and
others to the club but by that time the intended victim had left.
They then drove around looking for him but could not find him.
Madafferi has been charged over conspiracy to murder the unknown victim and has been
remanded in custody.
Barbaro already faces major drug charges over his alleged involvement in a global
operation that shipped 4.5 tonnes of ecstasy into Melbourne hidden in tomato tins.
During a brief filing hearing, he was remanded in custody to reappear in court in
September.