Man ‘thought he was going to die’ during alleged assault

Mr Alderton is charged with intentionally causing serious injury in circumstances of gross violence, recklessly causing serious injury in circumstances of gross violence, intentionally causing serious injury, recklessly causing serious injury, assault, and causing injury in company with others after an incident in Wyuna on February 17.

He is also charged with recklessly conduct endangering life by firing a shotgun, using a firearm while a prohibited person, possessing a loaded firearm with reckless disregard for safety, using a loaded firearm with reckless disregard for safety, trespassing with intent to cause damage, trespassing and damaging property.

Bendigo police Detective Senior Constable Daniel Vear told the court Mr Alderton and two co-accused, Melissa Hastie, 47 of Shepparton, and Ritchie Alderton-Hastie, 19, of Bendigo, allegedly assaulted a man at his Wyuna home for about 30 minutes.

The court heard the man fell to the ground, and the trio allegedly assaulted him by punching and kicking him, and stomping on his head.

One of them also allegedly spray painted the man’s face with black paint.

Mr Alderton allegedly took a shotgun from Mr Alderton-Hastie, who allegedly struck the man’s face with the butt of the shotgun multiple times, because he believed he was “going to kill” him, Det Sen Constable Vear said.

During the assault, Mr Alderton allegedly fired the shotgun 15cm from the man’s head while he was on the ground, Det Sen Constable Vear said.

The trio allegedly left the man lying covered in blood, and a neighbour called 000 after hearing “angry voices and a gunshot”, the court heard.

The man suffered severe lacerations to the face, had a partially detached lip, and a fractured nose and jaw. The injuries are expected to leave long-term cosmetic scarring.

Two videos of the incident were found on Mr Alderton’s phone.

Det Sen Constable Vear said Mr Alderton was an extreme risk to the public and the alleged victim, who was terrified at the thought of him being released on bail.

“He nearly killed him ... he thought he was going to die,” he said.

Mr Alderton allegedly made full admissions to the offending, telling police they went to Wyuna because he believed the man had allegedly previously assaulted his two co-accused, Det Sen Constable Vear said.

Mr Alderton’s bail application was later withdrawn by his defence counsel.

He will next face Shepparton Magistrates’ Court later in August for a committal mention.

The two other co-accused are also on remand for the incident.