Three on trial for WA man's murder
David Liam Johnson was bashed, run over by a car and shot by three men he barely knew during a "church night" among a gang that was recruiting members, a Perth trial has heard.
Alexander James Stephens, Nathan Michael Beckton and Angus William John Ritchie are on trial in the West Australian Supreme Court, accused of murdering the 32-year-old man in Swanbourne in March last year.
Prosecutor Carmel Barbagallo said in her opening address on Wednesday that Mr Johnson was invited by his friend to attend the gathering, which the gang called "church nights", before he became involved in an argument with Beckton who threatened him with a meat cleaver.
Mr Johnson later hid under a utility at the front of the house and his friend left, believing Mr Johnson had gone.
But Mr Johnson was soon dragged out from under the vehicle and stomped on, laughed at, verbally abused and kicked, the court heard.
Stephens and Ritchie drove away to look for Mr Johnson's friend but instead returned with a sawn-off shotgun.
Ms Barbagallo said Stephens ran over Mr Johnson and then said "f*** this c*** is still breathing" before throwing a concrete slab on his head.
The trio then drove the victim to Lime Kiln Field where Stephens shot him, she said.
"He was a stranger to all of these men. He was nothing to all of these men," Ms Barbagallo said.
She said CCTV footage would show the accused men driving to the park and later at a train station unsuccessfully looking for Mr Johnson's friend.
Two other men, who are not on trial, remained at the house with one of them using bleach to clean up the mess, the court heard.
The trial continues.
Share a tip-off, video or photo with us
Most viewed in WA
Footage of toddler driving through Perth streets sparks police investigation
Family-run IGA calls out Woolworths after workers scope out their grocer
WA teen forced to sleep on emergency room floor in excruciating pain for 14 hours
‘Not one phone call, letter… nothing’: Family’s distress over huge ‘redevelopment’ project at famous Perth cemetery