Two men accused of fatally shooting a passerby outside a downtown Toronto strip club just over two years ago were both equally culpable, court heard Wednesday.

Awet Zekarias, 24, and Edward Paredes, 25, have both pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder in the death of John O'Keefe, a 42-year-old father of a young boy.

O'Keefe was shot and killed in the early hours of Jan. 12, 2008, as he headed home from a downtown pub.

The Ontario Superior Court trial for the accused began Wednesday with Crown prosecutor Hank Goody telling the court he would produce evidence that would prove "how needless anger, a loaded firearm and senseless violence cost an innocent man his life."

According to police, the two accused were kicked out of the Brass Rail strip club on Yonge Street south of Bloor Street at about 1:30 a.m. At about the same time, O'Keefe left the nearby Duke of Gloucester pub, also on Yonge Street.

The two men are alleged to have returned to the strip club to exact their revenge on the security staff who booted them out.

O'Keefe shot in head

The Crown alleges Parades intended to fire at the security staff, but the bullet from his gun instead killed O'Keefe.

Goody referred to Paredes as "the shooter." He called Zekarias "the shouter" for allegedly egging Paredes on.

When Paredes pulled out his gun, everyone on the street moved out of the way, except for O'Keefe, who unwittingly walked into the bullet's path, court heard.

O'Keefe was shot in the head and died instantly.

Zekarias, and Paredes, both from Scarborough, were arrested and charged several days later.

The Crown has said O'Keefe was in the wrong place at the wrong time. But one of O'Keefe's longtime friends disagrees, saying the wrong lies with whoever killed him.

"John had every right to be walking up Yonge street at the time," Chris McDonald said outside the Toronto courtroom. "He was in no way in any wrong."

The trial continues and is expected to last about a month.