Adrian Lovegrove acquitted over 2021 Naracoorte assault, co-accused William Broadbent found guilty

A Naracoorte shearer trying to perform a “citizen’s arrest” has been found guilty over a terrifying, violent home invasion – while his co-accused was acquitted.

A Naracoorte shearer trying to perform a citizen’s arrest has been found guilty over a violent home invasion and assault – while his co-accused was acquitted after a jury wasn’t convinced he was there.

William Joseph Broadbent, 38, and Adrian Clarke Lovegrove, 33, both of Naracoorte, had pleaded not guilty in Mount Gambier District Court to serious criminal trespass and aggravated assault over an altercation in Struan, near Naracoorte, on the evening of August 8, 2021.

On Tuesday, a jury found Mr Lovegrove not guilty of all charges and Broadbent guilty of aggravated criminal trespass, two counts aggravated assault causing harm and a count of aggravated assault.

The two men remained still as their verdicts were read but exchanged a handshake and small smiles as Mr Lovegrove was released.

Before and throughout the trial Mr Lovegrove denied any involvement.

In a police interview video filmed a day after the assault and shown to the court he said “it wasn’t me”.

Adrian Lovegrove has been found not guilty. Picture: Facebook

The court heard about 9:30pm on that Sunday, two people arrived at a Struan property and assaulted Glenn Steel and Zac Steel, the father and son of Nathan Steel – who was not present.

Andreana Steel, Nathan’s mother, witnessed the violent event, telling the court she “thought her family would be killed that night”.

In his police interview, also shown to the court, Broadbent said he had gone to confront Mr Steel, claiming he had tried to run Broadbent’s aunty off the road a few days prior.

During his interview he refused to tell police if he was alone.

In her closing statements to the jury, Broadbent’s lawyer told the court, “William did not go to the Steel house with the intention to bash Nathan Steel, nor did he remain on the property with the intent to assault Glenn, Andreana or Zac”.

William Joseph Broadbent was found guilty and will be sentenced. Picture: Facebook.

“Someone had threatened his aunty, threatened to shoot her,” Mr Broadbent’s lawyer said.

“He ended up taking things into his own hands.”

Broadbent’s lawyer said Nathan was wanted by police for threatening Broadbent’s aunty and police cars and helicopters were said to be looking for him that night.

She said Broadbent went to the Steel property to warn Nathan to stay away from his aunty, to make sure he didn’t have access to the guns Nathan had allegedly threatened to use on his family, and to maybe perform “a law-abiding citizen’s arrest” on Nathan until police could arrive.

The court heard Broadbent and his accomplice forced their way into the Steels’ house but were unable to find Nathan, leading to Broadbent instead assaulting his son Zac.

He struck him in the face, then “grabbed Glenn by the throat and threw him into the stove, breaking the glass”, the court heard.

It heard his accomplice punched Glenn in the head several times, leaving him with a bleeding head wound that caused him to “almost pass out” when the police arrived.

Mr Lovegrove’s counsel told the court no one in the Steel family could identify Mr Broadbent’s accomplice following the attack.

“The only evidence that puts Lovegrove at the Steels’ property that night comes from Zac,” they said.

Mr Lovegrove’s lawyer said Zac was only able to recall the nickname of a shearer he’d worked with on occasion and “the full name was only given to police much later”.

The court also heard Glenn and Andreana both failed to identify Mr Lovegrove in a police line-up, picking the same other person.

“Glenn and Andreana both picked the same person, what’s the chance of that ladies and gentlemen?” the defence lawyer said to the jury.

“I’m not saying Zac lied, I’m saying he’s mistaken.”

Mr Broadbent is set to be sentenced in the Mount Gambier District Court in the coming weeks.