‘I’ll hunt you down’: Court hears recording of confrontation as two SA Police officers stand trial charged with aggravated assault

A 17-year-old pressed ‘record’ on his phone as two cops allegedly hit, choked and threatened him. Now their trial has heard what happened when his mum turned up.

The victim of the alleged assault, Matthew Odgers, leaves court with his mother on Monday. Picture: Kelly Barnes

An SA Police officer knocked a teenager to the ground, choked him and warned “I’m an old man, I’ll hunt you down” if he complained about the assault, a court has heard.

On Monday, the Adelaide Magistrates Court heard Matthew Odgers “could breathe, but could barely talk” during his encounter with Andrew Allan Jaunay and Sean Gregory Hobbs.

During the pair’s trial, prosecutors played audio that was recorded by Mr Odgers’ phone during the alleged assault.

“Now if you want to tell your mum that we f***ing belted you, guess what, go right ahead ... we will say we didn’t do it,” says a man alleged to be Jaunay.

“Your choice, you want to be a big man and play with the big boys, you can play ... just remember I ain’t going anywhere, pal ... I’m an old man, I’ll hunt you down.”

The recording also captures responses given after Mr Odgers’ mother arrived on the scene.

The same voice says: “If you believe that I’m assaulting people on the side of the road, that I would do that to a child in the street, you must have rocks in your head.”

Police officer Andrew Jaunay leaves the Adelaide Magistrates Court in 2017. After years of legal wrangling he is now standing trial, charged with assaulting a teenager in Whyalla in 2013. Picture: AAP Image/David Mariuz

Police officer Sean Hobbs outside the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday. His trial has heard he allegedly choked a 17-year-old as he lay on the ground, allegedly after the youth was knocked down by fellow police officer Andrew Jaunay. Picture: Kelly Barnes

Jaunay, 42, of Morphettville, and Hobbs, 33, of Torrensville, have pleaded not guilty to aggravated assault causing harm.

The charges arise from a stop and search at Whyalla in October 2013, when Mr Odgers was 17.

Giving evidence on Monday, Mr Odgers said he was under a court-enforced curfew and “two minutes from home” when he was stopped by the officers.

He said the duo found a drug pipe, belonging to his friend, in his possession before he asked if he could go.

“The bald officer hit me and said ‘you can f---ing leave when I tell you to leave,” he said.

“I was intimidated, in shock, didn’t understand the situation ... I was scared.

“The bald officer said ‘you think you’re tough?’ and struck me with the back of his hand with enough force to knock me back and roll on to the ground.

“(The other officer) put his hand around my throat and was yelling at me, telling me to shut up ... I could breathe but I could barely talk.”

In the audio recording, the voice alleged to be Jaunay’s speaks with Mr Odgers and his mother.

“You are a very cheeky boy, you should be under arrest ... I’m allowed to use reasonable force,” the voice says.

“He should be under arrest, I just can’t be bothered arresting him ... we’ve said enough tonight, we’re going.”

The trial continues before Magistrate Ben Sale.

Originally published as ‘I’ll hunt you down’: Court hears recording of confrontation as two SA Police officers stand trial charged with aggravated assault