A MAN accused of hitting a rival scrap metal collector with his car and leaving him for dead inside the Cessnock waste management facility on Sunday has been refused bail in Cessnock Local Court.
Detectives say Adam Andrew Bidner, 30, of Rawson Street, Aberdare, and Shane Mears were known to each other and claim Mr Bidner used his Toyota Landcruiser to run down the 54-year-old at the waste management facility on Old Maitland Road on Sunday.
And while Mr Mears lay dying from multiple critical injuries beside a large scrap heap in an isolated area of the facility, Mr Bidner is accused of fleeing the scene.
He was arrested at a property at Lovedale about 10.20am on Wednesday and police say they seized a silver Toyota Landcruiser. Mr Bidner appeared in Cessnock Local Court on Thursday charged with dangerous driving occasioning death - drive manner dangerous, negligent driving occasioning death and failing to stop and assist after a vehicle impact causing death.
Police allege Mr Mears was struck and left for dead between 4.45pm and when he was discovered by his friend at 5.10pm.
But, according to court documents, Mr Bidner is also charged with refusing to disclose the identity of a driver or passenger of the Landcruiser between 1pm and 5.10pm.
Mr Bidner did not come up on screen from the Newcastle courthouse cells, but was supported in court by a number of family members during a brief mention of the matter on Thursday.
Solicitor Jacob Tate said Mr Bidner would not be entering any pleas or making an application for bail and the matter was adjourned until August 26 for the brief of evidence against Mr Bidner to be served.
However, the police prosecutor noted due to the large amount of forensic material and expert evidence required it was unlikely the brief would be ready by that date. What started as a grisly mystery - a man found dead inside the Cessnock tip after closing time - quickly became a major investigation and manhunt, with the NSW Homicide Squad called in to assist Hunter Valley detectives. After police arrested Mr Bidner at Lovedale, they raided a house at Aberdare and seized a number of items. Investigations are continuing and police have not ruled out further charges.
