Sam Abraham climbed into his car parked at Lalor train station to find himself set upon by a man hiding in his back seat.
The would-be killer, wearing a balaclava, appeared to have lain in wait with a bottle of Chivas Regal whisky, that was found later, Melbourne Magistrates Court heard on Monday.
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Somehow Mr Abraham fought off the man and even managed to seize his balaclava.
It was a lucky escape, but Mr Abraham's good fortune was short-lived.
Ten weeks later he was dead.
Police allege Mr Abraham, 33, was killed by cyanide poisoning by Arun Kamalasanan, a friend of Mr Abraham's wife, Sofia Sam, on October 14, 2015.
The court heard Mr Kamalasanan broke into the couple's Epping home, sedated Mr Abraham, Ms Sam and their son and poured cyanide-laced orange juice down Mr Abraham's throat as he lay next to his wife.
They also believe Mr Kamalasanan was the man waiting in Mr Abraham's car on July 30, 2015.
Mr Kamalasanan, 35, and Ms Sam, 33, are both charged with murder.
Police believe the pair knew each other in their native India and reconnected in Australia.
Mr Kamalasanan is also charged with attempted murder over the train station attack.
Acting Sergeant Paul Somerfield said Mr Abraham presented the balaclava when he reported the attack - saying he did not recognise the offender - and confirmed some items inside his car were not his, including the bottle of whisky.
Mr Kamalasanan, a cleaner at a Mercedes-Benz dealership, had not been at work on the night of the attack after telling his boss he was injured, the court heard, but he returned to his job the next day.
Aji Parameswaran, who shared a St Kilda flat with Mr Kamalasanan, said he once saw his flatmate with a balaclava.
Mr Parameswaran said on another occasion, the flatmates spoke about murder as they walked on a beach discussing a high-profile case in India.
"I was just asking how it's possible to kill someone and he said 'It's easy to do that sort of thing because there are plenty of things that medical science cannot find out', or something like that," Mr Parameswaran said.
"It wasn't a serious conversation."
One of two officers who attended Mr Abraham's home on the morning of his death confirmed he saw a cup with orange liquid in it, but thought nothing in the house looked suspicious.
The hearing, which will determine whether Mr Kamalasanan and Ms Sam stand trial, continues on Tuesday. The accused pair were remanded in custody.