Drug-Fuelled Rage Ends in Brutal Worksite Attack
A Perth tradesman, in the grip of a psychotic episode fuelled by a week-long methamphetamine binge, has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for the attempted murder of his workmate. Matthew William Lawson, 26, launched a sustained and vicious attack on Trae Black at a worksite in July 2024, leaving the victim with life-altering injuries including a severed leg.
A Sustained and Premeditated Assault
The Western Australia's Supreme Court heard how Lawson, who had not slept for a week and had consumed methamphetamine and a bottle of whiskey, first swung a hammer at Mr Black's head. When Mr Black fled into nearby bushland to escape, Lawson pursued him on foot and then in his car. Lawson deliberately drove off the highway and into the bushland, mowing down his defenceless colleague.
The impact was catastrophic. Mr Black suffered a severed right leg and a fractured pelvis. But Lawson's attack did not end there. He got out of his car and repeatedly struck the injured man in the head with a demolition hammer. Justice Natalie Whitby described the hammer as 'a very dangerous weapon', which fractured Mr Black's skull, jaw, cheek, and eye socket, and caused a bleed on his brain.
Life-Altering Injuries and Chilling Threats
Trae Black's injuries were so severe that he spent 11 days in a coma and was unable to walk for eight months. He now has a prosthetic leg and is unable to work. The court was told he suffers from recurring nightmares and flashbacks of the horrific event.
In a chilling twist, when police arrested Lawson on suspicion of assault, he corrected them, stating, 'Nah. Murder'. He further told officers that if Mr Black was not already dead, he would 'go back and kill him'. Lawson later claimed he assaulted Mr Black because he believed the methamphetamine he had been using—spending around $250 a day on drugs—had been 'chopped' and was going to kill him.
Justice Served Behind Bars
During sentencing, Justice Whitby emphasised the premeditated and violent nature of the crime, noting that Lawson made no attempt to help his victim after the attack. Matthew William Lawson was sentenced to 14 years' imprisonment and will be eligible for parole after serving 12 years.
