Family insist man 'framed' for Vic murder

The family of a Melbourne man jailed for killing a high-end dressmaker claim he has been framed, vowing to fight to clear his name

Lawrence Michael Duca, 47, screamed expletives and "you dogs" as he was led out of the Supreme Court on Thursday to begin his 20-year sentence.

"You're innocent and I know it. I believe you," his daughter yelled, before Duca's family began wailing and sobbing.

Duca must serve at least 16 years before he is eligible for parole.

He was convicted by a jury in March of shooting The Phuong Vuong twice in the chest in June 2017 before stealing from his home with another man, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

Mr Vuong was a sewing machinist who also ran a massage service and was in charge of a money pot known as a "hui" collected from his local Vietnamese community and distributed monthly.

He tried to fend off his attackers, who had earlier ingested ice and GHB, but was fatally shot with a 12-gauge shotgun in a struggle at his front door.

Mr Vuong's body was found 10 days later.

Duca maintains his innocence, claiming he was drug-affected by Xanax at the time and asleep in the getaway car.

He claimed he wasn't aware of Mr Vuong's death until it made news.

Duca was convicted of statutory murder, an offence which occurs when there is an intention to commit a crime of violence, but not necessarily an intention to kill.

His daughter Stephanie and ex-wife Lucy said Duca was "framed".

"My dad Lawrence Duca is innocent. He did not murder Phuong ... he was set up and he was framed," Stephanie told reporters outside court.

"The jury got it wrong and a miscarriage of justice has occurred.

"We will continue to fight for my dad's freedom because as an innocent man. He does not deserve to be where he is."

However, Justice Lesley Taylor said Duca fired the fatal shots, twice in rapid succession at Mr Vuong, before gaining access to his home with the other man and searching the victim's house for items of value.

She said the pair made off with $27,000 in cash, a Louis Vuitton bag and a wallet.

Justice Taylor said Duca's actions were disgraceful and he had "expressed no contrition".

Jurors reached the verdict of statutory murder in the furtherance of a violence crime, as they could not find Duca had murderous intent when he pulled the trigger.