A Victorian Supreme Court jury has acquitted 35-year-old Rocky Russo of both murder and manslaughter charges following a stabbing incident that resulted in the death of Matthew Salau, 30. The jury reached its verdict after four days of deliberation, concluding before midday on Thursday.
The case centred on an incident that occurred in June 2024, when Russo visited Salau’s home in Melbourne’s southeast. He sought to intervene after Salau allegedly threatened a female friend over a $5,000 debt. Prosecutors claimed that Russo brought a knife to the confrontation and deliberately stabbed Salau in the chest and back, resulting in fatal injuries.
In contrast, Russo maintained his innocence, asserting he acted in self-defence. He contended that Salau was the one who brandished a knife during their altercation, which lasted four minutes and 21 seconds. The jury was informed that Salau had previously visited Russo’s female friend demanding the debt with force, even showing up with a meat cleaver the following day and sending threatening messages later that evening.
Despite the prosecution’s narrative, the jury ultimately found Russo not guilty, rejecting their allegations of intentional harm. Emotional reactions followed the verdict, with Salau’s sister visibly distraught in the courtroom. Following the jury’s decision, Justice Amanda Fox announced that Russo was free to leave the dock, marking his release from custody later that day.