Dillon Brian Kilpatrick and Tallen Douglas Kilpatrick face charges of causing harm with intent, theft

Two brothers have been accused of beating a Whyalla man with shovels, breaking his jaw and eye socket, before stealing his motorbike, a court has heard.

Two brothers allegedly viciously beat their victim with shovels in his own backyard over a drug debt before stealing his motorbike, a court has heard.

Whyalla siblings Dillon Brian Kilpatrick and Tallen ‘Red Dog’ Kilpatrick stand trial in the Port Augusta District Court this week, after allegedly attacking Philip How at his mother’s house and stealing a motorbike from the residence.

The Kilpatrick brothers are charged with causing harm with intent, theft and assault over the incident that allegedly took place on March 21, 2020 in Whyalla Norrie.

Tallen Kilpatrick faces an additional charge of assault.

The court heard victim Philip How was taken to Whyalla Hospital before being flown to Flinders Medical Centre for surgery with injuries related to the incident, including a broken jaw and a fractured left eye socket.

Tallen Douglas Kilpatrick faced court alongside his brother Dillon. Picture: Facebook

During his witness statement to the court, Mr How said he was woken by his brother, Brenton How, who alerted him that Dillon Kilpatrick was at their door.

The court heard that after a verbal disagreement Mr How was chased into his backyard by the Kilpatrick brothers and another man.

“An ice pick was thrown at the back of my head, I ducked and it missed then I was hit in the back of the head by a shovel,” Mr How said.

“Then I was grabbed in a headlock by Dillon who strangled me and dragged me across the (backyard) sandpit area.

“I was told to put my legs out over a wooden plank and then he jumped up and down stomping on my legs.”

The ice pick was allegedly thrown by an associate of the Kilpatrick brothers who was also allegedly present.

Mr How then told the court he was kicked in the face before laying still on the floor until they left.

An emergency doctor from Whyalla Hospital told the court that when Mr How was admitted to hospital he was “unable to close his mouth” and had “blood and spit constantly coming out.”

Philip How’s mother, Kerrie Shaddock, was called around 7pm before heading home to find Philip standing in the shower crying and murmuring, the court heard.

“I told him to get a towel around him and that he needed to get to hospital immediately,” Ms Shaddock said.

“I then gave him a Coles bag to contain the blood.”

The court heard that Mr How’s mother went to Tallen Kilpatrick’s house after taking Mr How to hospital and offered money to clear the alleged drug debt and reclaim the alleged stolen motorbike.

“He said ‘it’s not about the money’,” Ms Shaddock said.

“He then pushed me with full force onto the driveway.”

Lawyers representing the Kilpatrick brothers declined to make an opening statement to the court.

The trial continues in Port Augusta District Court this week.