By Liam Mannix and Nino Bucci
A man has been charged with the drive-by-shooting murder of Nathan Knight, a suspected car thief who was shot in the face as he sat in his car.
Another man has been charged with helping cover up the crime.
Nathan Knight, 24, was shot in the face while he sat in a car parked in Lalor on New Year's Eve
Serdar Atesok, 28, is accused by police of murdering Knight on New Year's Eve, 2015.
Syed Sultan, 33, is charged with stealing a silver Mazda and then later setting it alight.
Police say it may have contained evidence of Mr Atesok's crimes.
Police had earlier suggested a stolen silver Mazda was used in Mr Knight's slaying.
Knight died from massive injuries after he was shot in the face while sitting in a car parked in Lalor.
He was speaking to another person in the car when a second car approached and he was shot and killed.
Neither of the two charged men made an application for bail when their cases appeared on Monday morning at the Melbourne Magistrate's Court.
When Knight, 24, died he was due to face court in a matter of weeks over threats to kill and drug and traffic offences.
Knight had a tattoo around his left eye that read "no remorse for dogs", an apparent reference to his dislike for those who speak to police or, according to family members, to an ex-girlfriend who cheated on him.
In 2013 he was accused of stealing a Porsche 911, an Audi, and a Holden station wagon, during an ice-fuelled, two-week crime spree.
He had more than 40 prior convictions.
During a 2014 bail application, police said Knight had a substantial drug debt, and had been stealing motor vehicles to rebirth and sell.