THE man accused of murdering an acquaintance during a late night dispute in Ligar Street last year was laughing with the victim just hours before he was shot and killed, a witness has said. The trial of Jon Lucas, 29, from Mitchell Park, continued in the Supreme Court in Ballarat yesterday with eight more witnesses giving evidence. Lucas has pleaded not guilty to one count of murder, and one count of attempted murder. Bradley Spark spent more than two hours in the witness stand, telling the court how two of his friends — Lucas and the deceased Steven Brooks — had been pleasant to each other in his Ligar Street home shortly before the January 10 shooting. Mr Spark said Lucas and Mr Brooks had gone outside briefly and talked, and then came back inside and “had a laugh”. But he said about 10 minutes later an argument ensued, in which Mr Brooks allegedly pushed Lucas up against a wall and head butted him, before the pair wrestled. Mr Spark told the court he broke up the fight and told Mr Brooks to leave. He said that after going out for a smoke, Mr Spark came back inside and found what looked like a .22 calibre rifle sitting on the kitchen bench — the weapon that allegedly killed Mr Brooks and caused Gregory Bullock to spend 17 days in hospital from a gunshot wound below the right side of his ribs. Mr Spark said he called Mr Brooks and warned him not to return because “something stupid might happen”, directions he said were ignored. Mr Spark admitted he didn’t hear the gun shots that killed Mr Brooks and injured Mr Bullock, but said he later called Mr Brooks and learned of the shooting.“I rang Steve and said what’s going on and he said ‘he shot us, he shot us, we’re going to the hospital’,” Mr Spark told the court. Mr Spark’s house mate Ryan Quinlan also gave evidence, telling the court he was “freaking out a bit” when he saw Lucas bring a gun into the Ligar Street house he shared with Mr Spark.He said Lucas left the house briefly whilst carrying the rifle, then returned and this time Mr Quinlan and Lucas left together.He said he and Lucas tried to leave by car but were blocked in by a red utility that skidded on the gravel.Mr Quinlan said Lucas got out of the car and ran, chased by Mr Brooks who he said was holding a bar about 600mm long, and another man, who he said was raising a hammer in the air.Mr Quinlan said he heard a “pop” sound and screaming and yelling from Mr Brooks and the other man, and later saw both vehicles speed off in opposite directions.Both Mr Quinlan and Mr Spark said the dispute arose over a $500 debt relating to a bobcat.Five Ligar Street residents also gave evidence, four of which spoke of hearing a male making threats to kill, occurring around the time the alleged murder took place.One lady said she saw two men run past her front window and heard several bangs, “like metal clapping on metal”.The trial before Justice Bernard Bongiorno continues today.