Matthew Draganoff accused of murdering tenant Simon Middleton amid 'growing animosity', court told
Matthew Draganoff is standing trial charged with the shooting murder of Simon Middleton at Virginia, in Adelaide's northern suburbs. (Supplied)
In short:
Matthew Draganoff is standing trial accused of the shooting murder of Simon Middleton in March 2021.
The jury was told there had been "growing animosity" between the pair in the days before Mr Middleton was killed.
What's next?
The trial is expected to hear from witnesses during the next six weeks.
A man shot dead north of Adelaide was heard telling his killer not to shoot and screaming moments before his death, a jury has been told.
Matthew Charles Draganoff, 48, is standing trial in South Australia's Supreme Court after pleading not guilty to the murder of Simon Middleton at Virginia, on the northern outskirts of Adelaide, in 2021.
Opening the trial, prosecutor Lucy Boord SC said it was alleged Mr Draganoff shot Mr Middleton in the early hours of March 8, 2021, at a property on Brady Street.
"In short, it is alleged that in the early hours of the morning … Matthew Draganoff shot Simon Middleton three times — to the head, chest and buttocks," she told the 14-person jury.
"Ultimately, the cause of Simon Middleton's death is gunshot wounds to his head and chest caused by a high-powered rifle known as a Marlin 30-30."
Simon Middleton (pictured) was allegedly shot dead by Matthew Draganoff. (Supplied: SA Police)
Ms Boord said there had been "growing animosity" between the pair in the days before the alleged murder, including a dispute over the sale of a stolen caravan and Mr Middleton living, rent-free, at one of Mr Draganoff's properties.
"In the lead up to the murder, there'd been an accumulation of grievances held by the accused towards the deceased,"she said.
"And by around the 5th of March 2021, which was a Friday, the animosity had grown.
"As I indicated earlier, that was due to a large range of issues."
Ms Boord told the jury that a man who witnessed the shooting would give evidence about hearing Mr Middleton scream before he was shot.
"[He] recalls the deceased receiving a phone call, [the man] wanted to give the deceased some space while he took that call and whilst the deceased was on the phone call, [the man] heard the deceased say: 'oh no, don't shoot' and then he heard the deceased start screaming," she said.
"[The man] starts running, as soon as he heard the deceased scream, and then he heard three-gun shots.
"[He] didn't see the deceased get shot nor did he see who shot the deceased, nor could he say where the shooter had come from."
The jury was told Mr Middleton was shot at a property on Brady Street, Virginia. (ABC News: Mahalia Carter)
Ms Boord said another man who had helped dispose of the alleged murder weapon, a Marlin 30-30 rifle, was also asked to burn Mr Draganoff's clothes.
"The clothing he'd been wearing was given to [the man] and the accused told him to burn it," she said.
"He didn't burn them."
She said police later seized the clothes and found a "bloodstain" on one of the shoes allegedly worn by Mr Draganoff at the time of the alleged murder.
Ms Boord told the jury the final "catalyst" for the crime came after a "home invasion" that was reported to police on March 6.
The Supreme Court jury was told there was "growing animosity" between the two men. (ABC News: Che Chorley)
She said Mr Draganoff believed Mr Middleton and his friends had been stealing from him.
The jury was told that dash cam footage captured the accused telling police the next day that he was "surprised" Mr Middleton had not been arrested.
"The accused can then be heard telling the police he was fearing for his safety and says amongst other things … : 'I'm entitled to defend myself however I can'," Ms Boord said.
Defence barrister Michelle Barnes, for Mr Draganoff, told the jury there was no dispute Mr Middleton was shot dead.
"But what is in dispute, fairly and squarely, ladies and gentlemen, is the identity of the person who shot and killed Simon Middleton,"she said.
The trial is expected to go for six weeks.