Two men accused of gunning down a fruiterer on a Melbourne freeway were allegedly "associated" with a motorcycle club, prosecutors have told a murder trial.
Josh Rider and Aaron Ong have been charged with the murder of Paul Virgona, 46, who was shot seven times as he drove to work on the Eastlink more than three years ago.
Mr Ong, 37, today appeared in the Supreme Court of Victoria where he pleaded not guilty to killing the family man.
But Crown prosecutor Mark Gibson KC told the jury that both men were complicit in the shooting.
"Either Mr Ong or Mr Rider was driving while the other fired the gun," Mr Gibson said.
"Both were working as a team, both were implementing a well organised plan to shoot to kill or to cause really serious injury," he said.
Mr Gibson told the Supreme Court that the alleged victim, Mr Virgona, had no criminal links and that both his alleged killers were "associated" with a motorcycle club in Port Melbourne.
Accused killers allegedly stalked victim before attack
In November 2019, Mr Virgona left his home at Croydon in the early hours of the morning to go to the Epping Markets, where he would prepare for the day's orders.
Prosecutors told the court he was followed in a stolen Mercedes by Mr Rider and Mr Ong, who allegedly lay in wait for him for close to two hours.
The Supreme Court heard that shortly after Mr Virgona left the Melba Tunnel on Eastlink, the Mercedes drew level with his van, near the Mitcham Road overpass.
"Either Mr Ong or Mr Rider discharged 11 rounds from a semi-automatic weapon, believed to be a 9mm Smith and Wesson handgun," Mr Gibson said.
The Supreme Court heard that Mr Virgona was hit at least seven times, and lost control of his car which spun around before coming to a stop.
"Mr Virgona died at the scene," Mr Gibson said.
"When police arrived, he was still in the driver's seat with the engine running, his mobile phone on his lap."
Hidden camera captures torching of alleged getaway vehicle
Mr Gibson told the court that the Mercedes then sped away to a "rural" address in Mooroolbark, which was vacant except for a construction site, and where the pair allegedly left their getaway car.
The jury was told that a security camera hidden by a builder in a nearby tree captured the arrival of the alleged getaway car, and two men returning to the vehicle.
Prosecutors allege that the two men were Mr Ong and Mr Rider, who then torched the stolen Mercedes.
The Supreme Court heard that the blaze destroyed all forensic material but that two false number plates managed to survive.
A member of the public also later found a key to the Mercedes in scrubland.
Mr Gibson told the jury that the men allegedly fled in the getaway car, a Volkswagen ute, but were pursued by police in a high-speed chase.
He alleged that the pair crashed the getaway car and fled the scene, leaving behind two bags of clothing which they were seen wearing on security footage the day before.
The Supreme Court was also told forensic investigators later found searches that Mr Ong allegedly made on his housemate's laptop with search terms such as "Melbourne breaking news shooting".
The trial continues.
