Shane Matherson ‘terrorised’ at Thebarton scrap metal yard before he twice hit worker, court told

It was a “testosterone-fuelled confrontation” sparked by angry scrap metal yard workers to led to one being hit twice by a customer’s car, a court has heard.

Employees of an Adelaide scrap metal yard at closing time were “absolutely terrorising” toward a man who tried to drive away and allegedly hit a worker twice with his car, a court has heard.

Peter Scragg, for Shane Matherson – who allegedly twice hit Craig Hatchard with his van in 2021 – said the actions of Mr Hatchard’s fellow employees after he was struck the first time were “menacing” toward his client.

“The van is stationary, the victim is on the ground, you’ve got Mr Payne coming and smashing one of the windows through (and) you’ve got two other people on the other side doing menacing things,” Mr Scragg said. “My submission is that those things are absolutely terrorising.

“He reverses his van back to avoid running the person over. Now, that’s where it all should have stopped (but) this was a testosterone-fuelled confrontation and everyone should have come to their senses but they didn’t.”

Shane Matherson, left, leaving the District Court with his lawyer Peter Scragg. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Morgan Sette

Mr Scragg said it was “risible” that one person who grabbed an axe as the confrontation blew up had claimed it was because of self-defence.

“Come on, that’s not in self defence – that’s to go and beat the van up with his axe because he’d do a better job with the axe than he would with his fist,” he said.

Mr Matherson is standing trial in the District Court before Judge Geraldine Davison without a jury, charged with endangering the life of Denron Metals employee Mr Hatchard on March 6, 2021, at Thebarton. He has pleaded not guilty. No other charges have been laid.

The court has previously heard after Mr Hatchard was hit the first time, his brother Jamie armed himself with a machete.

“Now, it’s a significant machete, it’s not a little one,” Mr Scragg said.

“He’s quite proud of his machete, Jamie. He claims he did it to try and protect his brother; he didn’t. He did it with malice of forethought. He did it because he wanted to inflict damage on the accused’s vehicle.”

The court has heard Mr Hatchard had informed Mr Matherson, who was trying to trade in his scrap metal, that the business was shut before swearing and telling him to move his car.

Mr Hatchard then hit the windscreen of the van – causing it to crack – prompting a “panicked” Mr Matherson to drive the van forward, the court heard.

Police interview employees at the scrap metal yard in 2021. Picture: Emma Brasier

He is then alleged to have rammed Mr Hatchard with his van, pinning him between the van and a white vehicle parked on the roadside. Mr Hatchard then fell to the ground on the road.

They alleged Mr Matherson then drove his car down the street’s cul-de-sac and returned at speed, hitting the employee a second time – running over his arm and shoulder.

During prosecution’s closing remarks on Wednesday, they alleged Mr Matherson “had motive” to deliberately injure Mr Hatchard a second time, which Mr Scragg dismissed.

“If he was revengeful and angry about what had happened, why didn’t he reverse his car and then make sure he ran over Craig Hatchard?” he said.

“That’s the anger motive. Why wait? Just do him on the spot – how is he to know Craig Hatchard would be on the road later on?

“He deliberately drove around him and up the road. That’s completely consistent with someone who had no intention whatsoever of hurting the victim and somehow – between that event and in the next 30 seconds – it’s alleged that he formed a malicious intent to harm Craig Hatchard.”

The trial has been adjourned until late next month where Judge Davison will deliver her verdict.