Matthew James Dullard faces court on attempted cop murder charge
Mr Dullard was due to enter his pleas on Monday morning to the allegation he tried to murder Brevet Sergeant Mark Woods during a routine traffic stop in March last year.
Police allege Mr Dullard, from Victoria, struck Sergeant Woods with his vehicle on the Barrier Highway at Ucolta, about 250km north of Adelaide, and then fled the scene.
A police chopper tracked him for 45 minutes before police apprehended him.
Sergeant Woods, based at Orroroo, suffered non life-threatening injuries in the alleged hit-and-run and paramedics flew him to Royal Adelaide Hospital for treatment.
Police have charged Mr Dullard with attempted murder, aggravated endangering life, causing harm by dangerous driving and leaving the scene of an accident after causing harm by careless driving.
In his earlier appearances, the court was told the 43-year-old man had been diagnosed with schizophrenia in 2019.
He initially refused to co-operate with either the police or any legal representation.
On Monday, Director of Public Prosecutions Martin Hinton KC asked Justice Julie McIntyre to adjourn the matter for two weeks, telling her he needed time to query a doctor about their report into Mr Dullard's mental competence.
'I've considered the report … I have a number of questions for the doctor,' he said.
'I don't know yet whether in light of the answers to those questions I'll be seeking a further report or will determine to concede mental incompetence.'
Mr Dullard's defence team did not oppose the request and Justice McIntyre listed July 21 for Mr Dullard's arraignment.
Justice McIntyre allowed Mr Dullard to appear by telephone for his next appearance.
Originally published as Matthew James Dullard fronts SA Supreme Court on attempted police officer murder charge
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
7NEWS
2 hours ago
- 7NEWS
Why the next 28 days are crucial for Erin Patterson after being found guilty of killing three people in mushroom murder
Erin Patterson has just 28 days to launch an appeal against her conviction after a jury found her guilty on three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder in a Victorian court on Monday. Patterson's estranged husband Simon's parents, Don and Gail Patterson, 70, and aunt Heather Wilkinson, 66, all died in hospital days after Patterson served them beef wellington laced with death cap mushrooms in July 2023. Heather's husband Ian Wilkinson also fell seriously ill from the deadly lunch but survived. The jury's guilty verdicts came after seven days' deliberation at the end of an 11-week trial in the Victorian town of Morwell, in the LaTrobe Valley. Following the verdict, Patterson was transferred back to Melbourne's Dame Phyllis Frost Centre where it is believed she is being held in protective custody. On Sunrise on Tuesday, criminal defence lawyer Ruth Parker and former homicide detective Charlie Bezzina spoke about a possible appeal from the convicted murderer. 'Technically the rule is that you have 28 days to appeal your conviction. But, realistically, the court will grant leave to appeal out of time for such big cases, where there is so much evidence and transcript,' Parker told hosts Natalie Barr and Matt Shirvington. 'Ultimately, I think that if she has the option to appeal she will.' Both Parker and Bezzina said Patterson was looking at a significant sentence. 'We haven't seen a case like this where there have been three people killed at the same time, in circumstances such as these, where they haven't gotten life (in prison),' Parker said. 'The issue will be whether she gets a parole period or non-parole period. 'I think there's a way to go with this one. She can definitely appeal out of time. The focus for her lawyers will be trying to get her the least possible sentence.' Bezzina said life in prison would be difficult for Patterson. 'It would be quite difficult, the fact of being segregated. There is code in the prison system about attacking or causing harm to children and the elderly. So, ultimately, she's not going to do her time easy,' Bezzina said. 'I think given the fact one murder count carries life imprisonment, I would expect the three life imprisonments, possibly with a very high parole date. 'She'll get parole. I would be very surprised if she gets life with no parole. I think parole will be set. 'The judge will have to take into account her whole circumstances when she gives their plea material and how she will be undergoing sentence. 'It will be a difficult time for her. 'That's a long time she will be suffering in jail. So, ultimately, we will be interested to see what the Justice comes back with.' Patterson on the stand Parker said while it was unusual for Erin Patterson to take the stand to give evidence, in this case it was necessary. 'Unfortunately, they (the defence) were put in a position where she had clearly lied to police during her record of interview,' Parker said. 'The only way they were going to get her version across or the version that the defence were promoting was to call her, and to put these things to her. 'But it must have been a terribly stressful situation, calling your own client is always deeply uncomfortable. 'She was in the witness box for a number of days. But unfortunately, I think that that was the only choice that they had.' Evidence Bezzina praised the detective work in the case. 'They had to go with their best case possible,' Bezzina said. 'This involved a lot of medical evidence, toxicology evidence, so forth and so on and witnesses also. 'You go where the evidence takes you and we have electronic evidence, we saw them bring in the dog from the Federal Police to look for electronic devices. 'We have the phones ... ultimately, very, very significant because the police know the high burden to prove a case beyond reasonable doubt. 'This was one of the massive cases, and ultimately, they're responsible to the family and to the community of Victoria to give them answers and bring someone to justice.' Complex case Parker said she had previously thought the complex case could end in a hung jury. 'I don't think I ever really formed that view (we'd get a guilty verdict) until the verdict,' Parker said. 'It was an unusual case in the sense there were lots of conflicting accounts. 'Ultimately the jury (felt) beyond reasonable doubt on the evidence collected she was guilty of murder on three counts and attempted murder on another.'
West Australian
3 hours ago
- West Australian
Erin Patterson spends first night in prison as convicted killer
After enduring her first night in prison as a convicted triple murderer , Erin Patterson might spend the rest of her days behind bars. The 50-year-old mother of two was found guilty of three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder on Monday after a long trial. Her estranged husband Simon's parents, Don and Gail Patterson, 70, and aunty Heather Wilkinson, 66, all died in hospital days after Patterson served them beef Wellington parcels laced with death cap mushrooms in July 2023. Heather's husband Ian Wilkinson was the sole survivor. There was a shout of 'murderer' as Patterson was driven out of the court precinct to prison in Melbourne on Monday evening. The jury's guilty verdicts came seven days after they were sent away to deliberate and 11 weeks into the trial in the Victorian town of Morwell. Brianna Chesser, a clinical forensic psychologist and criminal lawyer, said she was not surprised by the outcome. She argued Patterson's testimony across eight days on the witness stand, as well as circumstantial evidence , likely proved critical to convincing the jury beyond reasonable doubt. 'Whenever you have any lies in a trial it is quite a difficult thing to overcome from a defence perspective,' the associate professor in criminology and justice at RMIT University told AAP. 'What came out regarding the mushrooms was almost insurmountable. 'When you've got particular searches on your phone and a dehydrator that you had and didn't have, it really speaks to the unusualness of the circumstances.' The story had captivated the world because of the method, as well as the now-convicted murderer being a woman when the vast majority of homicides were perpetrated by men, Dr Chesser said. Patterson faces a sentence of life in prison for the three murders and one attempted murder and is expected to return to court for a pre-sentence hearing later in 2025. Options for appeal were usually restricted to points of law, a 'massive' error in fact or new evidence, Dr Chesser said. 'It's going to be quite a large sentence,' she said. 'We've heard during the cross-examination and examination in chief that there are some mental health concerns for Ms Patterson. 'That may well act a mitigating factor in any sort of sentence. 'We're also dealing with someone who's a middle-aged woman who has never offended before in their life and we've got four of the most serious crimes in Victoria being committed.' Within hours of the verdict, the Supreme Court released dozens of pieces of evidence that helped prosecutors secure the convictions. They included photos showing remnants of beef Wellington leftovers as they were tested by toxicologists, after police found them inside a bin at Patterson's home A video of Patterson discharging herself from Leongatha Hospital minutes after she had arrived was also released, while images of her at the hospital revealed a pink phone police say they never recovered. Prosecutors said this was Patterson's primary phone in 2023 and claimed she had used it to find death cap mushrooms online.
Perth Now
3 hours ago
- Perth Now
Erin Patterson spends first night in prison as convicted killer
Erin Patterson found guilty of three counts of murder. After enduring her first night in prison as a convicted triple murderer, Erin Patterson might spend the rest of her days behind bars. The 50-year-old mother of two was found guilty of three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder on Monday after a long trial. Her estranged husband Simon's parents, Don and Gail Patterson, 70, and aunty Heather Wilkinson, 66, all died in hospital days after Patterson served them beef Wellington parcels laced with death cap mushrooms in July 2023. Heather's husband Ian Wilkinson was the sole survivor. There was a shout of 'murderer' as Patterson was driven out of the court precinct to prison in Melbourne on Monday evening. The jury's guilty verdicts came seven days after they were sent away to deliberate and 11 weeks into the trial in the Victorian town of Morwell. Brianna Chesser, a clinical forensic psychologist and criminal lawyer, said she was not surprised by the outcome. She argued Patterson's testimony across eight days on the witness stand, as well as circumstantial evidence, likely proved critical to convincing the jury beyond reasonable doubt. 'Whenever you have any lies in a trial it is quite a difficult thing to overcome from a defence perspective,' the associate professor in criminology and justice at RMIT University told AAP. 'What came out regarding the mushrooms was almost insurmountable. 'When you've got particular searches on your phone and a dehydrator that you had and didn't have, it really speaks to the unusualness of the circumstances.' The story had captivated the world because of the method, as well as the now-convicted murderer being a woman when the vast majority of homicides were perpetrated by men, Dr Chesser said. Patterson faces a sentence of life in prison for the three murders and one attempted murder and is expected to return to court for a pre-sentence hearing later in 2025. Options for appeal were usually restricted to points of law, a 'massive' error in fact or new evidence, Dr Chesser said. 'It's going to be quite a large sentence,' she said. 'We've heard during the cross-examination and examination in chief that there are some mental health concerns for Ms Patterson. 'That may well act a mitigating factor in any sort of sentence. 'We're also dealing with someone who's a middle-aged woman who has never offended before in their life and we've got four of the most serious crimes in Victoria being committed.' Within hours of the verdict, the Supreme Court released dozens of pieces of evidence that helped prosecutors secure the convictions. They included photos showing remnants of beef Wellington leftovers as they were tested by toxicologists, after police found them inside a bin at Patterson's home A video of Patterson discharging herself from Leongatha Hospital minutes after she had arrived was also released, while images of her at the hospital revealed a pink phone police say they never recovered. Prosecutors said this was Patterson's primary phone in 2023 and claimed she had used it to find death cap mushrooms online.
