A COURT has heard how a property developer spoke of plans to murder a Scottish businessman at a secret meeting with an associate.

Millionaire property developer Ron Medich is accused of orchestrating the murder of his former business partner Michael McGurk, 45, outside his home on September 3, 2009 in Sydney, Australia.

The crown alleges that Mr Medich directed his former close friend Fortunato “Lucky” Gattellari to organise the murder and intimidation after his dealings with Mr McGurk soured.

Giving evidence at the New South Wales Supreme Court, Gattellari's former driver Senad Kaminic said that Mr Medich often called Mr McGurk names behind his back. "None of them was nice," he said.

Kaminic and Gattellari have already pleaded guilty to their roles in the murder, and received reduced sentences for agreeing to give evidence against others, including Medich.

Kaminic said Gattellari had asked him to organise surveillance of Mr McGurk, who was involved in a bitter court dispute with Mr Medich.

Prosecutors asked Kaminic about a meeting where his boss and Medich were having a private conversation. When they were leaving in the car, Kaminic said Gattellari told him: "It looks like he wants to go all the way."

"I asked, really?" Kaminic said. Asked by the prosecutor what was meant by "all the way", Kaminic said: "To kill McGurk."

The court was told Gattellari and Medich went to China in May or June 2009. Kaminic said during this time, he received a message from Gattellari.

"If they (contracted killers) finish the job while they were over there, they would get bonus," he said.

He said the murder did not happen while the two men were on the trip. Gattellari, who finished giving his evidence on Tuesday, claims Medich handed him $500,000 to pass onto those who carried out the murder.

Earlier in the trial the jury heard a secret police recording of a conversation involving Gattellari, Kaminic and a third man, Haissam Safetli, allegedly talking about Mr McGurk's murder after it happened.

Their conversation was picked up by a wire worn by Safetli on behalf of police. When giving evidence about the conversation, Gattellari told the jury he had been trying to get Safetli to admit to Mr McGurk's murder.

"I'm asking Mr Safetli to take the blame," Gattellari said in his evidence. He added: "I'm offering to make sure that his family is looked after and he would be taken care of as well."

Medich has denied playing any part in the murder. The trial continues.