KitKat helped link accused killer to EastLink execution

For the first time, details have emerged about how two alleged killers stalked fruiterer Paul Virgona before shooting him dead.

Police have outlined for the first time how they say two alleged killers lay in wait for fruiterer Paul Virgona before shooting him dead on EastLink.

A meticulous timeline of what Mongols bikies Aaron Ong, 35, and Josh Rider, 30, were doing in the hours before and after the execution have been detailed at their preliminary hearing in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court.

It alleges the pair were repeatedly captured on CCTV before and after Mr Virgona’s death and details how the clever work of a builder gave police their first lead on the case.

Mr Virgona’s van being examined by police on EastLink. Picture: David Crosling

The court heard a half-eaten KitKat ditched as one of the accused fled also helped investigators to link him to the brutal slaying.

Mr Ong and Mr Rider are each charged with having murdered the father of two as he drove to work on EastLink on November 9, 2019.

The court heard on Wednesday how the pair had been caught on CCTV in the hours leading up to the brutal killing — and later left key DNA evidence when discarding shopping bags containing clothing and a chomped-on chocolate bar while trying to flee police.

Prosecutor Angela Ellis told the court Mr Ong and Mr Rider laid in wait near Mr Virgona’s Croydon home for more than two hours before following him onto the ­freeway.

Ms Ellis said as Mr Virgona exited the Mullum Mullum tunnel the pair accelerated to move beside his van and fired 11 rounds into the driver’s side door from a semiautomatic gun.

Mr Virgona, 46, sustained 17 separate gunshot injuries and died at the scene.

“He was found by police still sitting in the driver’s side with the engine running, his seatbelt affixed, and his mobile phone illuminated in his lap,” Ms Ellis said.

She said Mr Virgona, a grocer by trade who ran Virgona Fresh Produce in Thornbury, was on his way to Epping markets to arrange his daily orders when shot.

The prosecution alleges Mr Ong, of Kilsyth, and Mr Rider, of Port Melbourne, then drove their stolen Mercedes to a paddock in Mooroolbark and torched it.

The pair then allegedly fled in a stolen Amarok ute.

Josh Rider. Picture: Facebook

Aaron Ong.

When a police patrol car later gave chase to the ute, the court heard they ran a red light, sped at up to 100km/h in 50km/h zones and drove on the wrong side of the road.

They soon after ran into a give-way sign and ran off carrying their belongings, including two shopping bags containing clothes and a partially eaten KitKat.

The pair discarded the bags to jump a fence.

They were not arrested and charged until January 22 last year.

The court heard police secretly used a glass Mr Ong had drunk from to compare the DNA on the KitKat and clothes found inside a Culture Kings shopping bag and discovered it was likely to be his.

A dumped SUV on The Mountain Highway in Bayswater. Picture: AAP

DNA analysis of the clothing found inside a Coles shopping bag were also linked to Mr Rider.

The prosecution alleged Mr Ong and Mr Rider were captured on CCTV attending the Mongols clubhouse in Port Melbourne the night before the murder in the “distinctive” clothing.

The court heard they both left the clubhouse at 10.25pm, with Mr Ong seen wearing a black Nike brand windcheater with two-toned sleeves; and Mr Rider a hooded top he had bought that evening from a health club in Port Melbourne.

“Both Mr Rider and Mr Ong’s mobile phones remained in Port Melbourne,” Ms Ellis told the court.

“Investigators will allege this was a deliberate act to avoid detection.”

Mr Ong and Mr Rider are yet to enter pleas.

The hearing, to determine if there is sufficient evidence for the pair to stand trial, ­continues.

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