Large crowd bids farewell to mafia-linked greengrocer murdered in his driveway as his daughter tells mourners he ‘didn’t deserve’ to die that way
The daughter of John Latorre, the Melbourne underworld figure who was gunned down in his driveway has shared tragic new details about the moments after he was shot.
At a packed funeral service, Latorre was remembered as “a man of honor, respect and generosity,” and his daughter said she did “all she could” to save him after his execution killing.
The family hugged and cried as they entered the church, dressed from head to toe in black for the somber occasion.
As hundreds of mourners filled the pews of St. Monica’s Catholic Church in Moonee Ponds, Latorre’s flower-filled casket was displayed at the front of the church, complete with a floral wreath and a framed photo of Latorre.
A heart-shaped floral tribute was also placed at the front, with ‘Nonno’ written in red letters, while hymns played in the background in both English and Italian.
Mourners gather outside St Monica’s Catholic Church in Moonee Ponds as relatives walk outside with a photo of Latorre following the service
Sources believe Melbourne fruiterer John Latorre (pictured) was shot by a fly-in fly-out killer on orders from high up in the mafia
Mourners dressed all in black as they said goodbye to Latorre, who was described as a ‘man of honour’ during the service
Mr Latorre is said to have been a discreet but influential member of the Australian branch of the ‘Ndrangheta’ – a powerful mafia organization from Calabria, southern Italy.
Latorre’s wife Maria and daughter Antoinette shared the role of the Catholic death rituals, which included sprinkling the coffin with water and lighting the memorial candle.
In delivering the eulogy, Antoinette said her father was a “pillar of strength.”
“Latorre means ‘the tower’ in Italian and daddy, you always will be,” she said.
‘My beautiful and wonderful father, I cannot believe that you are no longer here with us – it was not your time to go.
“I want you to know that I tried everything I could to help you that morning. I was close to you, just as you are to me.
Sources claim the successful greengrocer’s execution outside his home (pictured) as he left for work was highly planned
Shocked friends and family rushed to the scene where John Latorre was shot in his driveway in Greenvale last Tuesday morning
‘My courage and strength came from you that day – we will always remember you and say your name, you will never be forgotten.
‘You were a man of honor, respect and generosity. You taught us the importance of family. You told us that we are strong and to hold our heads high.”
Latorre’s other daughter, Melina, broke down in tears as she delivered her eulogy, saying she had “never felt so much pain” and that her heart was “irreparably broken.”
“You taught us from such a young age the value of respecting our family and friends, which I think has become part of who we are,” she said.
‘Deep down you were a big softie and would do anything for us.
‘Not a day goes by that we don’t look at your picture and talk to you.
“I am truly sorry that you left this earth so suddenly and not on your time or God’s time.
“You didn’t deserve this.”
The church was packed for the 64-year-old who ran a wholesale fruit business at the market
John Latorre, the Melbourne underworld figure gunned down in his driveway, is remembered by family at his funeral
Pallbearers carry Mr. Latorre’s ornate casket from the Cathedral of St. Monica
Father Joe Giacobbe introduced the Mass and said that in addition to formal tributes such as hymns, a clear tribute to Latorre was the large number of people who attended the funeral.
“If you want a tribute to the lord, look around,” he said.
“This is a pretty big church and it’s full, probably twice as big.”
A second introductory and opening prayer was also said in Italian, including a series of Ave Maria thanksgiving prayers.
Latorre was a fruiter who had been a fixture at the Melbourne Markets in Epping.
About 4:30 a.m. on March 12, he was shot in the driveway of his Greenvale home with gunshots to his upper body as he left for work.
He died instantly and his bloodied body was discovered shortly afterwards by a shocked relative.
John Latorre’s daughter Antoinette revealed she was the relative who found his body, telling mourners she did ‘everything I could’ to save him
A heart with the word Nonno was carried by younger relatives
Father Joe Giacobbe told attendees to “look around” to see how full the church was if they “wanted a tribute to the gentlemen.”
The Herald Sun previously reported that Latorre’s murder contract had required the green light from the top of the mafia, suggesting it may have been some kind of fly-in-fly-out job.
Multiple sources confirmed to the same masthead that there was no way the murder of someone as high-status as Latorre could have happened without sanctions from the Honored Society bosses.
Detectives are piecing together the circumstances surrounding the murder and continue to appeal for any information relating to the murder.
It is believed that a small motorcycle was the getaway vehicle for the killer, and police intelligence suggests that the bicycle that ‘made a loud noise’ was seen near Latorre’s home in Buchanan Place around the time of the murder.
Police continue to investigate possible links between organized crime and the shooting.
No one has been charged in connection with his death and police are still searching for his killer.