Retired army veteran accused of firing golf ball at passing car

A retired army veteran accused of firing a golf ball at a passing car and possessing an explosive device in Victoria's north has been granted bail.

Murray Matthews, 66, was arrested on Saturday after police responded to an incident in the small town of Numurkah on October 29.

He was charged on Sunday with a number of offences including reckless conduct endangering serious injury and weapons, explosives and cannabis offences.

The Shepparton Magistrates' Court was shown CCTV footage of Mr Matthews leaving his property with a weapon on his shoulder and firing a golf ball towards a car driving past his home.

Prosecutors told the court the weapon used to target the vehicle was a bead blaster.

Detective Senior Constable Amy McColl, of the Cobram Criminal Investigation Unit, told the court, 19-year-old Oakley Austin and his friend Tyson Gray were in the car when it was struck. 

Detective Senior Constable McColl said Mr Austin was driving his work vehicle and had picked up his passenger, Mr Gray.

They got to the intersection of Bitcon Place and Murray Street and while waiting to turn right, they both heard something hit the back of the car. 

Mr Austin attended Numurkah police station and provided a copy of the CCTV footage.

Police were unable to find a bullet hole in the car, the court heard. 

Police find explosive in shed 

On Saturday, October 31 at 11:43am, police searched Mr Matthews's home, the court heard.

Detective Senior Constable McColl said police found an improvised explosive device in the shed at the premises.

"Nearby residents were instructed to stay inside until the scene was attended by the bomb response unit,"

she said.

Alongside an "energetic black powder in a contained vessel", police also found two slingshots, a samurai sword, a crossbow and one Victoria Police tunic and office shirt as well as cannabis plants.

Detective Senior Constable McColl told the court Mr Matthews had admitted during an interview that he made the device with a pipe.

Police described the weapon as a "pipe bomb".

The prosecution opposed bail arguing that the firearm and explosive offences were serious and that the accused had "shown a lack of remorse in his interview".

Defence lawyer Briana Zito told the court that Mr Matthews had significant health and mental issues, and was a veteran who served in the Australian army between 1977 and 1990. 

He suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and was receiving assistance from the Department of Veterans Affairs for counselling. 

She told the court there was no allegation that Mr Matthews was "connected to any nefarious group". 

Mr Matthews was granted bail with conditions including he not to contact witnesses, not to possess any firearm, imitation firearm, or explosive and is not allowed to buy a bead blaster.

He will return to court in January 2027.