It emerged that the 54-year was shot at a close range outside a garage in Co Armagh in August 2019.
Convicted criminal Malcolm McKeown who was shot dead whilst sitting in his BMW parked at the rear of a service station in Co Armagh was struck by at least six bullets, a court heard on Tuesday.
All four have been jointly charged with, and have denied, murdering Malcolm McKeown on August 19, 2019 and of possessing firearms and ammunition - namely two firearms, and assorted bullets and cartridges - with intent to endanger life on the same date. Mr Murphy told the non-jury hearing: "Mr McKeown would, considering his background, have been wary of being attacked by other criminals.
Less than a minute later, a navy Volkswagen Passat was seen speeding away from the scene and this vehicle was found burned out a short time later in Lurgan. In the aftermath of the murder, items recovered from the burned out Passat - which bore false number plates - were forensically examined, as were cartridges located beside Mr McKeown's BMW.
The prosecuting KC said: "This material evidences a distinct interest in Mr McKeown in the period before his death and is consistent with preparations for the killing."
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