Buying a car, finishing high school, meeting his girlfriend, winning his first football match with a new club and starting a business were moments that Luca Virgona couldn’t wait to share with his father.
Paul Virgona was his best friend and biggest supporter.
But the father of two children was not there at any of those times.
While driving to work on November 9, 2019, Paul Virgona was shot dead in cold blood by two Mongolian motorcyclists, for reasons the police cannot explain.
Aaron Ong and Josh Rider had been watching his home in Croydon for hours before Mr Virgona left for work at 2am, and followed him as he went to sort out the fruit and vegetable order for the day.
On the highway, they pulled up next to him and fired 11 shots at his van from a semi-automatic pistol, hitting him 11 times.
Mystery continues to surround the gangland murder of Croydon father-of-two, Paul Virgona (pictured), who was winding down his business to spend more time with family
Mr. Virgona’s van spun out of control. When the police found him, the engine was still running, his phone was lit up in his lap, and Mr. Virgona was dead.
Luca Virgona never missed a chance to talk to his best friend and couldn’t wait to tell him about his latest achievements, to see how proud his father was.
“These are the moments I’ve never had, I never will,” he told Victoria’s Supreme Court on Tuesday.
“It’s unbearable to know that the future is filled with these unanswered calls.”
Giulia Virgona said that she and her father shared excitement about her future achievements together.
“Having to complete and achieve these goals without him is a struggle in itself,” she said.
Luca was 17 and Giulia was 14 when their father died.
Despite both Mongolian bikers Josh Rider (pictured) and Aaron Ong being convicted of the murder, it is still unknown what the motive behind the murder was and who fired the gun.
Rider pleaded guilty to Mr. Virgona’s murder last year, and weeks later a jury convicted Ong of murder.
Prosecutors cannot prove which of the two was behind the wheel of the high-performance Mercedes that followed Mr Virgona from his home to the murder scene, or who fired the fatal shots, but say their guilt was based on their joint performance .
Prosecutor Mark Gibson, KC, said Mr Virgona had no criminal associations and was not associated with the Mongolian biker gang, as both Ong and Rider were.
“There is nothing in Mr. Virgona’s background that explains why he was targeted and killed,” he said.
Rider’s attorney Dermot Dann, KC, did not dispute the story as a case of mistaken identity.
The court heard that Rider may have discussed a motive with a psychologist, but Mr. Dann said there would be no evidence for that.
Rider also told the psychologist that he made an “extremely bad decision” and acknowledged that Mr. Virgona’s death was not meant to be.
Mr Vigona’s widow (left) told Victoria’s High Court on Tuesday that she will ‘miss him with sadness every day’, while his son, Luca (right), said he missed his father and best friend
Antonietta Virgona said her husband was an easy-going, carefree and knowledgeable man with a passion for cars, motorcycles, sports and especially food.
He stopped at a pasticceria on his way home from work and picked up pastries for his wife and family, or spontaneously decided to take them out for ice cream.
“He enjoyed the simple things in life and was easily pleased,” she said.
Mrs. Virgona said her husband had begun winding down his business to spend more time with his family, but after his death that task fell to her.
“I imagined a long life growing old together,” she said.
Paul was my everything. I live with sadness every day. I will miss Paul for the rest of my life.’
Marc Virgona said his brother never thought he was being followed or in danger.
“If you’re an innocent person who’s just going to work to provide for your family, why would you?” he said.
Their parents, Giuseppe and Geraldine Virgona, were also in court for the pre-sent hearing, which is continuing.
Supporters of Ong and Rider were in the courtroom, crying as the family spoke.