Staff members have recalled the fatal Red Fox Tavern hold-up, including the sound of an "explosion", and hoping against hope the slain publican was okay, more than 30 years after the events transpired.
Mark Joseph Hoggart, 60, and a man with name suppression are on trial for the aggravated robbery and murder of Christopher Bush, on the night of October 24, 1987.
Both of the accused men deny they were the ones that committed the crimes.
After counting the takings, Bush was having a drink with staff members Stephanie Prisk, Sherryn Soppet and William Wilson when the armed hold-up occurred.
Bush his hurtled his glass at the gunman, the prosecutor said, while the gunman pulled the trigger.
"He [Bush] seemed to have just enough time to lift his left arm to shield his face but this was no protection."
Bush was struck full-on in the upper left side of his chest and under his arm.
A "tightly clustered grouping" of 215 shot-gun pellet strikes pierced his chest cavity, lungs and heart.
"He stood no chance."
The Crown case is that the two accused men are consistent with the descriptions of the offenders and they had the motive - they were broke and needed money.