Two Mongols bikies ambushed fruiterer as he drove to work, court hears

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Two accused Mongols bikies lay in wait for Melbourne fruiterer Paul Virgona before gunning him down as he drove to work, prosecutors say.

Josh Rider and Aaron Ong are charged with murdering the 46-year-old father of two as he drove along the EastLink Freeway at Donvale on November 9, 2019.

He was shot seven or eight times from 11 rounds fired into his van, prosecutor Angela Ellis told Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

© Provided by Daily MailJosh Rider (pictured) and Aaron Ong are charged with murdering the 46-year-old father of two as he drove along the EastLink Freeway at Donvale on November 9, 2019

© Provided by Daily MailRider and Ong (pictured) allegedly drove a stolen Mercedes to Mr Virgona's Croydon home and waited until he left for a market at Epping around 2am

Rider and Ong allegedly drove a stolen Mercedes to Mr Virgona's Croydon home and waited until he left for a market at Epping around 2am.

They're accused of following him onto the freeway, pulling up alongside him and opening fire on the van.

Mr Virgona was found dead in the driver's seat with his seatbelt on and the engine running.

His alleged killers then dumped the Mercedes at a Mooroolbark paddock and used a 10 litre fuel container to set it on fire, the court was told.

© Provided by Daily MailMr Virgona (pictured) was found dead in the driver's seat with his seatbelt on and the engine running

Ms Ellis said the men left in another stolen car, at times driving up to 150km/h, before losing control of that vehicle at Bayswater and running into a park.

The court was told they discarded the keys for the Mercedes along the way. A member of the public later found the keys and handed them to police.

Rider, now 30, and 35-year-old Ong were arrested on January 22 last year. The gun hasn't been recovered.

The court was told they attended a Mongols clubhouse the night before the shooting and drove two stolen cars to Mooroolbark around midnight.

They are contesting the charges. A committal hearing, to determine if there's enough evidence for the pair to stand trial, is continuing.