Perth, Australia — A construction worker who violently attacked a colleague under the influence of methamphetamine will face a minimum of 12 years in prison following a brutal incident that left the victim with severe injuries. The perpetrator, Matthew William Lawson, 26, expressed a chilling determination to finish what he started after learning his victim survived.
The violent episode occurred in July 2024 while the two were working at a job site in Perth. According to evidence presented in Western Australia’s Supreme Court, Lawson had been awake for a week, consumed a significant amount of alcohol, and was in the grips of a severe psychotic episode when he attacked Trae Black. The court heard that the aggression escalated quickly, beginning with Lawson swinging a hammer at Black, but missing his target.
Black fled into nearby bushland, prompting Lawson to pursue him on foot and then with his vehicle. In a calculated act, Lawson drove off the highway and into the bush, intentionally striking Black. Justice Natalie Whitby, presiding over the case, noted the deliberate nature of the attack. Black was left exposed and vulnerable, suffering multiple critical injuries including a severed leg and a fractured pelvis.
After hitting Black, Lawson exited his vehicle and continued the assault with a demolition hammer, inflicting further damage, including fractures to Black’s skull. During his arrest, Lawson reportedly told officers, “If he’s not dead, I’m going to go back and kill him,” highlighting the premeditated nature of his actions.
Black endured significant physical trauma, including fractures to his pelvis, skull, and facial bones, which led to an 11-day coma. Despite having a prosthetic leg now, he faces ongoing challenges with mobility and mental health, experiencing nightmares and flashbacks as a result of the attack.
Justice Whitby emphasized the calculated and sustained violence of Lawson’s actions, marking them as particularly egregious given Black’s helplessness at the time. “Your offending was very violent against a defenseless victim,” she said, underlining the severity of the case.
The court also learned that Lawson had been spending approximately $250 a day on drugs at the time of the incident, with his motive for assaulting Black stemming from a paranoid fear that his methamphetamine had been tampered with. This fear ultimately fueled his violent outburst.
On Monday, Lawson was sentenced to 14 years of imprisonment, with eligibility for parole set after 12 years. The ruling reflects a judicial recognition of both the premeditated nature of the attack and its catastrophic impact on Black’s life.