Alleged pipe bomb found after golf ball fired at ute, court hears

Detective Senior Constable Amy McColl told the court Mr Matthews allegedly used a modified bead blaster — a piece of machinery commonly used by truck mechanics — to fire a golf ball at a ute being driven past his Murray Ave house by a 19-year-old man, on Thursday, October 29.

Mr Matthews is charged with reckless conduct endangering serious injury, being a prohibited person possessing an imitation firearm, possessing an explosive substance and making an explosive substance.

He was also charged with cultivating cannabis, possessing cannabis, possessing Victoria Police equipment without authority, and possessing a prohibited weapon without exemption.

He has not entered a plea to any of the charges.

Det Sen Constable McColl told the court the 19-year-old and his passenger, whom he had picked up from a nearby house, allegedly heard something hit the back of their vehicle.

She told the court they reviewed CCTV footage and saw Mr Matthews with what appeared to be a firearm, before hearing what they thought was the crack of a firearm and something hitting their vehicle.

The court heard the victim had earlier asked Mr Matthews why he had been throwing things at his vehicle, with Mr Matthews allegedly telling him “I’ll get you in my own time”.

The police were unable to locate any bullet holes or bullets in the vehicle or tyres that were in the back of it, the court was told.

When police searched Mr Matthews’ house on Saturday, they found the bead blaster that Mr Matthews allegedly told them he had used to fire a golf ball at the ute.

They also discovered what prosecutor Sergeant Sean Walsh alleged could be described as a “pipe bomb” in the shed.

The Bomb Response Unit was called in to detonate the alleged improvised explosive device made of “energetic black powder”, which Det Sen Constable McColl said was put inside a pipe, with the end clogged with clay, and a fuse added.

They also seized two slingshots, a crossbow, samurai swords and 27 cannabis plants, as well as a police tunic, shirt and belt.

Det Sen Constable McColl said that, in an interview with police, Mr Matthews admitted firing a golf ball from the bead blaster, which he had added PVC piping to, as well as making the IED.

He also told them the IED was a “firecracker left over from New Year’s Eve four or five years ago”, Det Sen Constable McColl said, but the prosecution refuted this.

Mr Matthews also told them he had a medicinal cannabis prescription, but had thrown around some cannabis seeds to grow as he wanted to “put cannabis in his tea for his ailments”, Det Sen Constable McColl said.

She said he was an unacceptable risk to the safety and welfare of others, and that she was concerned he would seek out the victim.

Mr Matthews’ defence solicitor Bree Zito told the court her client had “significant health issues”, both physical and mental.

She spoke of how he was a veteran who had served in the Australian Army from 1977 to 1990, and as a result had a significant back injury, including a neck fusion, and had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.

She also said he had Type 2 diabetes, and had a toe amputated in October.

Ms Zito told the court that if Mr Matthews was remanded in custody, any time he spent in prison before his case finalised could exceed any sentence he might be given.

Magistrate Mark Sabljak granted bail, with conditions including that he continue to live at his Murray St house in Numurkah, not contact prosecution witnesses, and not possess firearms, imitation firearms or explosives.

He is also not allowed to possess any prohibited weapons, dangerous articles, or controlled weapons.

He will next appear in court in January.