Mathew David Hannon has been sentenced for his role in the death of Sidney Ross Bridson at Waitaanga, a small settlement east of Taranaki, in October 2023.
Mathew David Hannon has been sentenced for his role in the death of Sidney Ross Bridson at Waitaanga, a small settlement east of Taranaki, in October 2023.
A longstanding dispute between two neighbours in a remote rural settlement ended with one supplying a loaded shotgun, and the other’s body discovered in his torched house.
Sidney Ross Bridson and Mathew David Hannon lived about 300m from one another in Waitaanga, east of Taranaki, with a smallvalley separating their properties.
The pair had been at odds over several matters, including access to a shed on a shared driveway and family and friends of Bridson’s hunting on the surrounding land.
Tensions continued to boil between the men, and on one occasion, Bridson smashed a bottle over Hannon’s head and threatened him.
At the sentencing, Justice Paul Radich described Hannon, who was not present when Bridson died, as having engineered his death.
The court heard that on August 24, 2023, Bridson and Hannon had an argument.
Two days later, Hannon visited Bridson at his home, and while there, was attacked by Bridson.
He pushed Hannon to the ground, smashed an empty bottle over his head and threatened to kill him.
Hannon left the property with moderate injuries and, due to the altercation, became afraid of Bridson and preoccupied with his movements and behaviour.
Then, on the evening of October 10, Bridson was drunk at his home.
Mathew David Hannon has been sent to prison for his role in the death of Sidney Ross Bridson.
For reasons unknown, Bridson smashed the windows of a vehicle he had purchased that day and set fire to it.
Hannon, who had heard Bridson yelling and saw that he had started a fire, phoned one of his co-defendants.
Early the next morning, the co-defendants arrived at his home, where Hannon gave them a shotgun and ammunition.
It is alleged the co-defendants then murdered Bridson and set fire to his house.
In court, Crown prosecutor Jacob Bourke sought a starting point of eight to 10 years’ imprisonment for Hannon, while defence lawyer Paul Keegan, KC, argued six years, six months was appropriate.
Bourke submitted that Hannon’s offending featured an element of vigilantism.
He said that while Hannon was not present when Bridson died, he had provided the firearm and ammunition.
Keegan acknowledged Hannon’s reckless actions and the harm that transpired.
“The decision to supply a loaded firearm in these circumstances is acknowledged to be extremely foolish, criminal and tragically fatal.”
Justice Radich acknowledged Bridson’s loved ones, who had described him as caring, intelligent, a “fantastic” father and uncle, a mentor and a talented craftsman.
Tara Shaskey joined NZME in 2022 and is currently an assistant editor and reporter for the Open Justice team. She has been a reporter since 2014 and previously worked at Stuff covering crime and justice, arts and entertainment, and Māori issues.
