Thug who mowed down two Finnish tourists with his ute before launching a brutal shovel attack on the pair has attempted murder charge downgraded
- Man pleaded guilty to two counts of an act likely to endanger safety or lives
- Matt Whittaker faced Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court via video from prison
- He tried to attack a hiker with a shovel after mowing down the man in his ute
- The Finnish tourists had been hiking down the world-famous Bibbulmun Track
A man has admitted to brutally bashing two hikers with a shovel in a violent attack.
Matt Whittaker, from Perth, faced Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court via video link from Hakea Prison, and pleaded guilty to two counts of intending to do an act likely to endanger their safety or lives.
The 36-year-old was originally accused of attempted murder for the attack on the two Finnish tourists, who were trekking down the infamous Bibbulmun Track in Western Australia, in July last year.
The hikers had been trekking down the infamous Bibbulmun Track (pictured) in Western Australia in July last year
But his charge was downgraded to endangering life.
The male and a female hikers, both 33, has been at the beginning point of the world-famous trail at Paulls Valley, when the attack occurred.
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Police said the hikers were starting their trek along the trail, which runs from Kalamunda in the east of Perth to Albany, when Whittaker ran down the man in his ute, and then started attacking him with a shovel.
The man managed to stand up but they continued to struggle until the woman picked up the shovel and struck Whittaker.
(File picture) The male and a female hikers, both 33, has been at the beginning point of the world-famous trail at Paulls Valley, when the incident occurred
The world-famous trail (pictured) runs from Kalamunda in the east of Perth to Albany
A passer-by stopped to help and they restrained Whittaker until police arrived.
Whittaker was also faces drugs and weapon charges and his next appearance in Midland Magistrates Court scheduled for March 22.
Whittaker was remanded in custody.
He is due to appear in the District Court in April.
Pre-sentence and psychological reports were ordered.
Matt Whittaker, from Perth, faced Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court (pictured) via video link from Hakea Prison
