Adam Bidner now charged with murdering Shane Mears at Cessnock tip last month
Detectives have now charged Adam Bidner with murder over the Cessnock tip death of Shane Mears last month, where he was allegedly run over by a Toyota Landcruiser as he collected scrap metal.
Newcastle
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Detectives have now charged Adam Bidner with murdering Shane Mears at Cessnock tip last month.
The 30-year-old was originally charged with a range of offences, including dangerous driving occasioning death, negligent driving occasioning death and failing to stop and assist after vehicle impact causing death.
Last night at Parklea jail, Bidner was served with additional charges of murder and aggravated break and enter, and commit serious indictable offence.
Mr Mears, 54, suffered horrific injuries and died at the scene after he was allegedly run over by Bidner - another scrap metal collector - on July 5 as they searched through an area of the tip.
Strike Force Nargal investigators allege Bidner struck Mr Mears - a father-of-seven - with his Toyota Landcruiser before escaping through a hole in a boundary fence of the waste management facility.
Bidner lived in Aberdare, a suburb of Cessnock, which backs onto bushland behind the tip. He was arrested three later.
On the day of his death, Mr Mears had entered the tip with a mate through a hole in a fence as the tip was closing.
The pair separated to increase their chances of finding anything valuable. It was when Mr Mears’ friend returned to a huge pile of scrap metal that he found his critically-injured friend.
Locals say the vast expanse of bushland behind the waste management facility – together with a long perimeter fence – has long been used by people keen to enter the tip without being seen.
Bidner will appear at Cessnock Local Court on August 26.