It’s emerged the contract out for the murder of gangland lawyer Joe Acquaro had more than doubled before he was gunned down in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Mr Acquaro had a fierce reputation as a criminal lawyer representing a host of high profile criminals with links to the Calabrian mafia.

But about two or three years ago – as revealed in The Age – he had a falling out with Frank Madafferi who is serving time for drug trafficking.

Police are believed to have told Mr Acquaro in June that his life was in danger – there was a $200,000 bounty on his head which the Herald Sun believes had increased to half a million dollars.

Mr Acquaro refused police protection, had changed his appearance, but crucially hadn’t changed his routine.

Homicide Squad detectives say he was alone when he locked up his cafe – the Gelobar in Brunswick East – before he walked to his car and was shot dead.