Dealer killed mate over 'nothing', trial

"Kill or be killed."

That's what Brisbane man Dallin Kruithof allegedly told police as an explanation for why he fatally shot friend Russell Johnstone in Tingalpa on February 6, 2014.

But the 26-year-old drug dealer's Supreme Court murder trial also heard he told an associate he killed his mate because he wrongly assumed he stole a missing stash of ice.

In her opening remarks to the jury, crown prosecutor Vicki Loury QC said it was not in dispute Kruithof, who has pleaded not guilty, shot Mr Johnstone in the head, chest and back.

He died of his injuries in hospital four days later.

Ms Loury said neighbours would testify they heard gunshots and a car screeching from the scene about 3.30am.

She said Mr Johnstone was found lying on the road with gunshot wounds to his body.

The court heard a customer of Kruithof would claim he admitted killing his friend over the missing stash, which he later found in his kitchen.

"I shot my mate over nothing," Kruithof allegedly said.

Ms Loury said it wasn't in dispute the accused took police to bushland in the southern suburb of Rochedale in 2015, where they found a gun hidden in a buried safe.

The jury heard it was an agreed fact Kruithof burned his Jaguar in the days following the shooting.

He also booked a flight to Amsterdam and flew out on February 17, only to be refused entry on a stopover and returned to Australia, where he was taken into custody.

Ms Loury said Kruithof told police en route to the buried safe he had acted in self-defence.

"It was kill or be killed," Kruitof allegedly said.

"He thought he was about to die."

She said police would also give evidence about another discussion in which Kruithof said Mr Johnstone, who was found with a high level of ice in his system, wasn't armed.

Ms Loury said she intended to prove beyond reasonable doubt the positioning of the bullets showed Kruithof "intended to kill" Mr Johnstone or cause grievous bodily harm.

The trial continues.