A Melbourne man who helped an alleged murderer dispose of a body found torched in a car boot says he was an "idiot".
Ante Bacak, 46, says he helped place Kenan Balikel's body in the car and followed behind as the alleged murderer drove the body to Diggers Rest on October 30 last year.
Bacak watched as the alleged killer, a Keilor Downs man, set fire to the car and rolled it away with Mr Balikel's body inside.
"They drove away from the scene with the other vehicle fully engulfed in flames," crown prosecutor Kieran Gilligan told the Victorian Supreme Court on Friday.
The charred remains of Mr Balikel, a father of five, were identified through a fingerprint.
Bacak, who initially provided a false statement to police, has pleaded guilty to assisting after the alleged murder.
The alleged killer told Bacak he cracked Mr Balikel over the head with a crowbar after asking for help to get rid of a body, Mr Gilligan said.
When police asked why he helped, Kealba man Bacak said: "Because I'm a f***ing idiot."
The court heard Bacak was concerned about what would happen to him and his family if he did not help the alleged killer, who continually reminded Bacak of their "long friendship".
Barrister Michael O'Connell SC said Bacak was remorseful, as demonstrated through his eventual co-operation with police.
A friend of Bacak, Malden Vukusic, told the court no one could believe Bacak was involved as he was honest, reliable and known as "The Captain" in Melbourne's Croatian community.
"This man wouldn't put Mortein on a fly," he said.
Justice Lex Lasry will sentence Bacak, who is on bail, on September 4.
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