Victor Brincat, Thomas Hentschel charged with murdering former kickboxer Michael Ronald Marshall

Victor Brincat, 43, who had previously been interviewed about the fatal shooting of criminals Jason Moran and Pasquale Barbaro, faced the Melbourne Magistrates Court with Thomas Hentschel, 41.They are charged with murdering former kickboxer Michael Ronald Marshall, 38, near his South Yarra home on Saturday night. Marshall's partner and five-year-old son witnessed the shooting.He was shot up to five times in the head about 6.30pm on Saturday and died three hours later at The Alfred hospital.
With blood still drying on the bitumen, neighbours yesterday spoke of how Marshall valued his privacy. About six months ago, he had placed a sign near his double garage on Joy Street - metres from where he was gunned down - saying: "Admittance by invitation only to all persons and entities or trespass applies." A surveillance camera was connected to the intercom system at the front gate, and security grilles covered reflective glass, ensuring that no one could see inside the two-storey terrace home.One witness, who did not wish to be named, said he heard at least six shots as Marshall was gunned down. Marshall's five-year-old son had said: "Someone shot my daddy, someone shot my daddy." It is believed one of the shots pierced Marshall's eye.The witness said he assumed from the series of shots that Marshall "was being executed" and he was scared to assist.Marshall, a hot-dog stand owner, had a minor criminal record and was connected with figures linked to the amphetamine industry. Other neighbours spoke of a pleasant man who parked his old hot-dog van near his home, saying it was "ugly . . . the most terrible looking thing". Marshall was believed to have been an associate of Willie Thompson, who was shot at the wheel of his sports car on June 21. He had just left a martial arts class at a Chadstone gym.A spokesman for the World Kickboxing Association in Melbourne said he knew both men. Marshall would not have competed for at least 10 years, he said, but had recently bought a pair of boxing gloves for sparring.
The spokesman said Marshall's instructor, Bob Jones, would be saddened to hear of his protege's murder. Mr Jones is on business in North America and was unavailable for comment.Detectives from the underworld murder taskforce Purana, arrested Brincat and Hentschel about two hours after the shooting.Yesterday the detectives again scoured the scene where Marshall was gunned down.

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