Josh Rider, Aaron Ong jailed for murdering Paul Virgona on EastLink

The grieving widow of “hardworking” father Paul Virgona – who was killed in what was believed to be a case of mistaken identity – has praised police for bringing her husband’s killers to justice.

The grieving widow of slain fruiterer Paul Virgona says her family finally has closure after his killers were jailed.

Mongols bikies members Josh Rider, 33, and Aaron Ong, 37, were on Thursday sentenced to 30 and 35 years behind bars respectively over the execution-style murder of Mr Virgona as he drove to work along the EastLink in what was believed to be a case of mistaken identity.

Speaking outside the Supreme Court after the sentence, Antonietta Virgona fought back tears as she thanked prosecutors and police for their tireless efforts in bringing her husband’s killers to justice.

Antoinette Virgona speaks outside of the Supreme Court in Melbourne after the Mongol bikies who murdered her husband were sentenced. Picture: Nicki Connolly

“They have been extremely supportive of us all throughout this very long ordeal, we are relieved with the outcome and that it’s behind us now,” she said.

“Paul was an amazing person. He was (a) loyal, hardworking man, who, in all this, was innocent and didn’t deserve it. We will miss Paul every day of our lives and forever. He was a very devoted father, husband.”

Ong was found guilty 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.

Mongols bikie Aaron Ong has been sentenced to 37 years behind bars.

Josh Rider ahs been jailed for 30 years.

Family and friends of Mr Virgona and the bikies packed the court’s public gallery, with many wiping away tears as Justice Christopher Beale handed down his sentence.

“Their loss is incalculable, the suffering they have endured and continued to endure is terrible,” he said.

“An innocent man had his life cut short.”

Dressed in suits, Ong and Rider showed little emotion as the judge described the impact of Mr Virgona’s murder upon his family.

Rider and Ong were captured on CCTV leaving the Mongols Port Melbourne clubhouse in the hours before the brutal EastLink shooting on November 9, 2019.

They drove in convoy in stolen vehicles — one in a Mercedes and the other in an Amarok — through the suburbs to a Mooroolbark street, where they left the Amarok.

Both, then in the Mercedes, went to Mr Virgona’s Croydon home, where they lay in wait for two hours.

Police and emergency services at the crime scene on the Eastern Freeway in 2019. Picture: David Crosling

Just after 2am, Mr Virgona climbed into his van and began driving to Epping market.

Rider and Ong began trailing Mr Virgona as he made his way onto the EastLink before speeding up beside his vehicle and spraying 11 shots from a semiautomatic handgun into the driver’s side.

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

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

Crown prosecutor Mark Gibson said there was nothing in Mr Virgona’s background to explain why he was targeted and killed.

Croydon father Paul Virgona was shot dead in a highway execution on the EastLink tollway.

Paul Virgona’s body was found in a bullet-riddled van.

But police suspected the shooting was part of a violent tit-for-tat between rival bikie gangs, with Mr Virgona, who had no criminal association, believed to be mistaken for his Finks bikie neighbour.

Justice Beale said the murder involved “considerable planning” including the sourcing of firearms and stolen vehicles, surveillance and the disposal of weapons and clothes.

The court heard Rider joined the Mongols when he was 19 or 20 with friends believing he wanted a place to belong after a difficult upbringing.

He told a psychologist he was thinking of leaving the club, but the Mongols had supported him and his partner while he was in prison.

“Unless you leave the Mongols, there will be a price to pay for that support,” Justice Beale said.

The psychologist assessed Rider to have post-traumatic stress disorder from Mr Virgona’s murder and had struggled to come to terms with what he had done.

The court heard Ong became a fully patched Mongols member in 2017, and had not disavowed his association, with his lawyers claiming he had a love of motorcycles and enjoyed the social aspects of the club.

“Your association with the Mongols has proved disastrous,” Justice Beale said.

“If you haven’t done so already, you would do well to sever all associations.”

Rider will be eligible for parole after 21 years, while Ong must serve at least 24½ years.

Ong patted Rider on the back as the men were escorted out of the dock.