Witness recounts details leading up to the alleged murder of Simon Middleton by Matthew Charles Draganoff

A witness has recounted the chilling details of allegedly hearing his friend plead for his life – before he was allegedly shot dead by his landlord.

A witness has recounted that he heard a murder victim say “oh no, don’t shoot” before three loud gunshots that sounded like thunder.

Matthew Charles Draganoff, 44, is standing trial in the Supreme Court after pleading not guilty to murdering Simon Middleton on March 8, 2021.

Lucy Boord KC, prosecuting, told the court last month that Mr Draganoff allegedly fired three shots at Mr Middleton with a high powered rifle at Virginia.

The shots hit Mr Middleton to the head, the chest and the buttocks, with the shots to the head and chest killing him.

“It’s the prosecution case that the accused had the means, the opportunity and importantly the motive to kill the deceased,” Ms Boord said.

Matthew Charles Draganoff is charged with the murder of Simon Middleton who was found dead out the front of a Virginia property. Picture: LinkedIn via NCA NewsWire

Simon Middleton was shot dead on March 8, 2021. Picture: SA Police

Ms Boord said “the catalyst” for the alleged murder related to an incident on March 6, 2021.

The court heard Mr Draganoff had arranged for a man to keep watch on the property where Mr Middleton was living.

“(The man) contacted the accused and told him that the deceased and some of his friends had attended the property armed and were stealing some goods from that address,” Ms Boord said.

Giving evidence on Tuesday, a man told the court he was at the Draganoff home on the night of the murder before he went to Mr Middleton’s home.

The man said he had given Mr Middleton some privacy to take a phone call.

“All of a sudden I just hear this scream … it was really horrific,” he said.

“He was saying ‘oh no, don’t shoot’ and then I just ran.”

The man, who said he didn’t see Mr Middleton get shot, heard three loud gunshots, which sounded like “thunder going off”.

“I was just getting out of there, I was scared,” the man said.

The man said he went back to the Draganoff house “still in shock” and fell asleep on the couch.

He said when he was picked up by a friend the next morning Mr Draganoff was beside him on the couch but he didn’t have any conversation with him.

“I didn’t want to say anything to anyone about anything to be honest,” he said.

Michelle Barnes, for Mr Draganoff, previously told the court what was in dispute was the identity of the shooter.

The trial, before a jury, continues.

Originally published as Witness recounts details leading up to the alleged murder of Simon Middleton by Matthew Charles Draganoff