TWO gunshots were heard on the morning a man was allegedly killed on his property in northern Victoria, a court has been told.
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Daniel Oberin and Kevin Johnson, both from Echuca, are charged with the murder of 29-year-old Matthew Alexander at Daltons Bridge, near Cohuna, on September 13, 2019.
The two men on Wednesday fronted the Bendigo Magistrates' Court via video link for the start of a three-day committal hearing.
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Witness Ebony Bennett gave evidence that on the day before the alleged shooting, Mr Oberin told her he wanted to go to Mr Alexander's Eastons Road address to collect his "stolen gas bottle and tool trailer".
Ms Bennett said during several messages and phone calls, Mr Oberin told her he believed a woman had stolen the items and that Mr Alexander was in possession of them.
The witness told the court Mr Oberin said no one was going to get hurt and that he just wanted to talk to Mr Alexander.
Ms Bennett gave evidence that Mr Oberin asked her to delete their message and call history off her mobile phone.
The witness' partner Cameron Warby was with Mr Alexander when he was allegedly shot and killed.
Ms Bennett told the court Mr Warby was hysterical when he called her after the alleged shooting.
She said Mr Warby told her Mr Oberin had been at the Eastons Road address.
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Mr Warby also gave evidence at the Bendigo Magistrates' Court on Wednesday. He told the court he could not recall much of the morning of the alleged shooting.
Mr Warby told the court he had been working under the bonnet of a Holden Commodore when two men drove into the driveway in a ute.
He said he did not look up from his work but heard Mr Alexander say Mr Oberin had arrived.
Mr Warby told the court he then heard the sound of a gunshot and looked up, but one of the men ordered him to sit down with his head in his hands.
Mr Warby said he stayed in that position until the two men drove away from the scene. The witness told the court he heard a second gun shot and raised voices during the alleged incident.
The court heard Mr Warby had taken the drug ice with Mr Alexander in the hours before the alleged shooting.
The committal hearing will resume at the Bendigo Magistrates' Court on Thursday. Mr Oberin and Mr Johnson were remanded in custody.
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