Matthew Biebrick, 49, gives evidence in trial of Shane Matherson for allegedly running over scrap yard employee in 2021

Two frustrated customers of a metal scrap yard argued angrily moments before one allegedly twice ran down an employee, a court has heard.

The heated exchange between two frustrated customers of a metal scrap yard – seconds before one twice ran down a worker and the other grabbed an axe in retaliation – has been revealed in court.

Matthew Biebrick, 49, appeared in the District Court on Thursday – giving evidence in the trial against Shane Anthony Matherson who is charged with endangering the life of Denron Metals employee Craig Hatchard in 2021. He has pleaded not guilty.

Mr Biebrick recounted the hostile confrontation between himself and Mr Matherson, who began filming the ordeal from his car as he refused to leave the business.

“There was a big commotion at the exit where a car had parked across and wasn’t letting any other vehicles exit the property. I approached the accused and said ‘g’day mate, how are you going?’,” Mr Biebrick said.

Shane Anthony Matherson outside the District Court. Picture: Eva Blandis

“He grabs his phone – rips it out – and he starts taking film of me. I said ‘it’s private property, now don’t film me anymore otherwise I’ll take that phone and I’ll stick it down your f**king neck’.

“I said ‘get your piece of s**t car out of here because I want to go home.”

Mr Hatchard then came outside after hearing the commotion and told Mr Matherson to leave, before hitting the windscreen of the van, causing it to crack, the court heard.

Mr Matherson allegedly accelerated forward as a result, pinning Mr Hatchard between the vehicle and a parked car on the side of the road.

The court was told that upon being alerted to the incident, Mr Hatchard’s brother Jamie Hatchard armed himself with a machete while Mr Biebrick armed himself with an axe.

“At that point, not knowing how unpredictable this bloke was, I grabbed an axe out of my ute and I took off after him,” Mr Biebrick said.

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

“After a few steps I sort of thought ‘s**t, this is a dead end’, so I chucked the axe and I came back and tried to see if Craig was all right.

“Then, right from the end of the street, I’ve seen him (Mr Matherson) aim towards us.

“He probably got from maybe double the width of this courtroom and I said ‘this f**kin’ guy’s going to kill us. Get off the road’.

“Sure enough, to my amazement, the bloody guy’s run over him (Mr Hatchard) … Run over what looked like his chest and his arms.”

The trial continues on Friday where Major Crash Investigator David Hayes is expected to give evidence.

Originally published as Matthew Biebrick, 49, gives evidence in trial of Shane Matherson for allegedly running over scrap yard employee in 2021