Two alleged assassins are accused of turning a Saturday morning at a Melbourne cafe into war zone by gunning down an underworld figure and fleeing across the border in a chauffer-driven Audi

By WAYNE FLOWER, SENIOR NEWS REPORTER, AUSTRALIA Published: 01:32, 15 April 2026 | Updated: 01:32, 15 April 2026 Two alleged assassins fled Victoria in a chauffeur-driven luxury vehicle after peppering their victim with bullets in a brazen daylight attack, a jury has heard.  Jaeden Tito and Rabii Zahabe, both from New South Wales, are accused of the murder of underworld figure Gavin Preston and the attempted murder of his associate Abbas Maghnie as the pair sat outside Sweet Lulus cafe, in Melbourne's north-west, on September 9, 2023. The men pleaded not guilty in the Supreme Court of Victoria on Tuesday, where they're currently on trial. In opening the case, Crown prosecutor Kristie Churchill told the jury Preston was the victim of an organised hit by an unknown kingpin.  'We say that this was a contract killing, planned, prepared, targeted, with other unknown people involved in the organisation of the killing,' she told the jury.  The jury was shown chilling footage of the alleged attack, which showed shocked patrons scattering and Preston blasted with seven rounds as he enjoyed his breakfast in a dining area outside the cafe.  Mr Maghnie sustained near-fatal injuries in the attack, but managed to run for cover after copping a single, yet devastating bullet wound.  The court heard he had refused to help police with their case despite the loss of his mate and almost dying in the attack.  Underworld figure Gavin Preston was shot dead at Sweet Lulus cafe at Keilor Village in Melbourne's north-west in 2023 The jury was taken through what the Crown described as a well planned execution.  This included allegations the men sourced balaclavas and used encrypted apps to plan the alleged assassination.  Ms Churchill said four stolen vehicles with cloned plates and heavy tinting were moved around residential streets in the area in an apparent preparation for the hit and getaway. The night before Preston's execution, a chauffeur was booked via an encrypted app to pick-up passengers in Keilor the next morning and drive them to Sydney.  Those two men were the alleged shooters, the court heard.  The jury heard the men were picked-up in an Audi Q7 by a driver that later noted his passengers had a 'weird smell'.  Police alleged Tito had earlier sustained burns to his arm after allegedly setting fire to an Audi Q5 used in the alleged murder.  Phone and traffic data is said to have tracked the car from Melbourne to NSW, where the men requested separate drop‑offs near Liverpool and Yagoona, close to locations linked to the accused. Police tape off the area around the cafe where Preston was gunned down in an alleged public execution  Ms Churchill said the chauffeur noted the men remained mostly quiet throughout the long drive across the border, but overheard one man state: 'We are brothers now.' The jury heard claims Zahabe later searched 'no extradition countries,' viewed a photo of Preston and his partner, and conducted Islamic searches about forgiveness. The Crown will further rely on DNA evidence to prove their case, with allegations there was evidence linking both accused to swabs from the various vehicles, fuel cans, balaclavas and other clothing.  One firearm later recovered in an unrelated 2025 investigation was allegedly ballistically matched to the shooting.  The court heard at least two shots were fired from one gun and at least nine shots were fired from another.  It is alleged Tito fired the killing shots after Zahabe's weapon jammed while allegedly popping off rounds at Mr Maghnie. 'I look forward to addressing you at the conclusion of this trial where I expect I will be inviting you to return verdicts of guilty for both accused on both charges,' Ms Churchill said.  In providing a brief defence of his client, barrister Paul Smallwood claimed Zahabe simply was not involved in the shooting.  Rabii Zahabe denies he was behind the execution of Preston  Abbas Maghnie had been dining with Preston when they were both shot. He survived, but only just  'The issue in dispute in this case, as between the prosecution and Mr Zahabe, is this: does the evidence prove beyond reasonable doubt that he was one of those two shooters ... He was not either of those shooters,' he said.  Barrister Daniel Sala, for Tito, described the case as circumstantial and told the jury it should not be seduced by the prosecution's opening. Both lawyers claimed police had received information pointing to multiple people who had motives to kill Preston.  'Mr Tito denies that he is the person who leaps out and is said to fire upon Mr Preston. That's the issue in this case,' Mr Sala said.  'That's at its heart why I'm standing up addressing you right now.' The trial is expected to run for the next five weeks.  Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.