Michael William Wall, 77, faces court on weapons charges following Morphett Vale road rage

A 77-year-old southern suburbs man – who allegedly threatened another driver with a handgun after a road rage incident – has faced court.

Michael William Wall appeared at the Christies Beach Magistrates Court via video link on Tuesday charged with threatening to kill or endanger life. Picture: File

A 77-year-old Woodcroft man has faced court after allegedly threatening another driver with a starter pistol during a road rage incident last week.

Michael William Wall appeared at the Christies Beach Magistrates Court via video link on Tuesday charged with threatening to kill or endanger life during the Morphett Vale incident.

Wall allegedly threatened another driver with the pistol on a section of Beach Road, which merges from two lanes to one.

Last week, the court heard Wall and the other driver drove side-by-side for 600m before the other driver turned and allegedly saw Wall pointing the pistol at him.

Police later located Wall at his home address after the January 5 incident and allegedly found and seized a number of firearms, including the starter pistol.

The court heard Wall’s family and friends had been shocked by the out of character behaviour and had spoken “glowingly” of him in character references provided to the court.

“It was so unusual for a 77-year-old man previously respectable who's had a long and successful personal and working life to find himself in a position of being incarcerated,” Magistrate Susan O’Connor said.

Michael Wall appeared via video link at the Christies Beach Magistrates Court on Tuesday. Picture: Kaysee Miller

“Mr Wall is a man with layers of support in the community, he’s lucky to be supported by family members.”

The court also heard possible cognitive and mental health issues would be investigated by a neuropsychologist.

“His medical practitioner says there have been concerns expressed about his cognitive ability over the last few years never pursued because he seemed to be managing OK but it’s now to be pursued,” Ms O’Connor said.

“There is a need for there to be an analysis as to what triggered his reaction to this driving incident and it’d be very difficult to get a neuropsychologist to see him in jail.”

A police prosecutor said police opposed any form of bail due to the seriousness of the incident.

“At first glance, this (behaviour) has appeared out of the blue so the prosecution push that yes, he does pose a risk to the public,” he said.

“The fact that he’s 77 years of age, with the greatest respect of the court, means absolutely nothing.

“Cardinal Pell was 78, Rolf Harris was 84, I don’t think age means anything and prosecution are still opposed to bail.”

Ms O’Connor approved home detention bail, which the Director of Public Prosecution will appeal before the Supreme Court this week.