Grief-stricken wife Antoinetta Virgona faces bikies who murdered her ‘wonderful’ husband

The wife and son of a “wonderful man” who was killed by bikies in what police believe was a case of mistaken identity has told a court of their immeasurable grief.

The devastated family of slain fruiterer Paul Virgona say his execution-style murder has caused immeasurable pain to their lives, as his killers face life behind bars.

Mongols bikies Aaron Ong, 37, and Josh Rider, 33, sprayed the innocent father, 46, with bullets as he drove to work along the EastLink in what police believe was a case of mistaken identity.

At a pre-sentence hearing in the Supreme Court on Tuesday, Mr Virgona’s widow, Antonietta, sobbed as she read out an emotional victim impact statement detailing her grief.

“My late husband was a wonderful man, a loving and caring husband, he was my best friend, we had a strong and close bond,” she said.

“Whatever great achievements or events our children now have, there is always an underlying sadness to the occasion because Paul is not there to be part of it, to hug them and say how proud he is.

Mongols bikie Aaron Ong was been found guilty of murdering fruiterer Paul Virgona on EastLink. Picture: Supplied

Josh Rider admitted his involvement in the killing on the eve of his trial. Picture: Supplied

“I had imagined a long life of growing old together. I carry a broken and heavy heart, I live with a dark hole inside of me because a large part of me is gone.”

Mr Virgona was just weeks away from closing his business to spend more time with family when he was killed.

Ong was convicted by a jury of Mr Virgona’s murder while Rider admitted his involvement on the eve of the pair’s trial – a fact that was kept hidden from jurors.

Supporters of both Mr Virgona and his killers packed the court’s public gallery on Tuesday.

Mr Virgona’s 20-year-old son Luca wiped away tears as he spoke about how moments such as completing high school, meeting his girlfriend and winning footy games would never be shared with his father.

“These are the moments I never had, the ones I’ll never have,” he said.

He added he regretted scrolling on social media instead of saying goodnight to his father as he went to bed on November 8, 2019.

“I have no way of avoiding the grief I face,” he said.

The wife of Paul Virgona, Antoinette, and son Luca appealed for information in 2020. Picture: David Crosling

“If only I’d said goodbye to him. He is gone forever, my best mate, my mentor, my inspiration.”

Just after 2am the following morning, Mr Virgona climbed into his van and began driving from his Croydon home to a fruit market.

Rider and Ong had been lying in wait in a stolen Mercedes for two hours and began trailing Mr Virgona as he made his way onto the EastLink.

They followed closely behind for 12 minutes, before speeding up beside Mr Virgona’s van and spraying 11 shots from a semi-automatic handgun into the driver’s side.

Mr Virgona was struck at least seven times, losing control and spinning out before his vehicle came to a rest in the right hand lane near the Mitcham Rd overpass.

Luca Virgona leaves the Supreme Court. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

He was found dead with the engine still running and his mobile phone in his lap.

Crown prosecutor Mark Gibson conceded he did not know which of the bikies was driving the stolen car or fired the gun but they were convicted on the basis that both had formed an agreement to kill.

He added there was “nothing” in Mr Virgona’s background to explain why he was targeted and killed.

But police suspected the shooting was part of a violent tit-for-tat between rival bikie gangs with Ong’s trial hearing the murder was “carefully planned, carefully implemented”.

Investigators believed Mr Virgona, who had no connections to any criminal gangs, was mistaken for his Finks bikie neighbour.

Rider’s lawyer Dermot Dann KC said he did not challenge that Mr Virgona was an innocent victim or that the case was one of mistaken identity.

He added his client was remorseful and had acknowledged the “irreversible consequences” of his offending.

Ong and Rider, who have spent more than three years behind bars, will be sentenced in August.