Man accused of running down metal yard employee twice claims he was the victim

A man alleged to have run down a scrap metal yard worker twice at Thebarton has claimed in court he was set upon by a group of men with machetes.

Shane Anthony Matherson has made a second appearance in the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court for causing harm with intent and endangering life. Picture: File

A Blair Athol man accused of twice running down an employee of a Thebarton scrap metal yard has claimed in court he was set upon by a group of men with machetes.

Shane Anthony Matherson, 49, appeared in the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday via video-link, charged with the basic offences of causing harm with intent and endangering life.

It was his second appearance on the matter, after being arrested on Saturday, March 6.

Police allege that on that day, Matherson attended the scrap metal yard at its closing time and the alleged victim told him the business was closed.

Matherson is then alleged to have rammed the employee with his car, causing him to fall to the ground.

Police allege that Matherson then drove his car down the street’s cul-de-sac and returned at speed, hitting the employee a second time.

Shane Anthony Matherson has made a second appearance in the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court for causing harm with intent and endangering life. Picture: File

Matherson’s defence lawyer applied for bail and said the charges were contested.

“He (Matherson) maintains his version of events that he was attacked by a group of males and drove away in fear,” the defence lawyer said.

Matherson asked Magistrate Jayanthi McGrath if he could also address the court, to which the she replied it was not likely to be in his best interests but she would allow it.

He said he arrived at the yard at 11.55am, with a load including fridges and copper piping, which he was hoping to get rid of to clear his trailer to allow him to go fishing.

“It was five minutes before they were shutting,” Matherson said.

“I asked if I could drop off my stuff and he (the employee) said ‘f**k off, we are shut.”

Matherson claimed that when he continued to ask if he could drop his stuff off, he was set upon by a group of men with machetes.

Ms McGrath denied bail but ordered CCTV footage of the incident be provided by police.

The matter will next be heard before the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court in March.