A PERTH man who attacked two Finnish nationals as they hiked the popular Bibbulmun Track has been sentenced to eight years and nine months in prison.
Matt Lewis Whittaker, 37, ran down Queralt Tobarra and Tuomas Tani, both 33, as they walked along the track, in Perth’s outskirts, on July 28 last year.
Whittaker then got out of the vehicle and hit Mr Tani with a shovel, the West Australian District Court heard on Tuesday.
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READ NOWThey continued to struggle until Ms Tobarra picked up the shovel and struck Whittaker.
The victims, who were visiting and working in Australia, did not know their attacker.
Whittaker was originally charged with attempted murder but pleaded guilty earlier this year to two counts of the downgraded offence of doing an act likely to endanger the life or safety of a person.
He was also sentenced for drug and weapon offences and ordered to serve an earlier suspended term.
Whittaker must spend at least six years and nine months behind bars before he can be eligible for parole.