John Williams, 23, and Glenn Anderson, 52, faced Bendigo Magistrates Court yesterday charged with affray, making threats to kill and criminal damage.

Williams is also charged with reckless conduct endangering serious injury. Both men are contesting the charges.

Police allege the pair knew of their victims through a third co-accused, Robbie Kent, whose daughter had been involved with the victim’s son.

Prosecuting, Leading Senior Constable Dave Somerton said all three men were celebrating a mutual friend’s birthday in California Gully on October 1, last year, when they concocted an alcohol-fuelled plan to confront the victims. He said Williams drove to the Eaglehawk house and yelled at the family to ‘‘come out for a fight’’.

When the couple came outside, Williams got back in the car and drove at them, breaking their front fence before driving away, Leading Senior Constable Somerton said.

The court heard Williams, Anderson and a third man police believed to be Kent returned to the Eaglehawk home a few minutes later, threatening to kill the family.

“Anderson has run at the house with a stubby with a rag in it, effectively a Molotov cocktail, and threatened to burn down the house,” Leading Senior Constable Somerton said.

He said Anderson then broke one of the lounge room windows where a woman was holding her one-year-old son, and threatened to kill them.

“Williams then started up the chainsaw,” he said.

“He put a chainsaw through the front door.”

The court was told the victims then turned on Williams, Anderson and the third co-accused, who became ‘‘victims’’ of assault themselves.

But both men deny any involvement in the alleged incident.

Anderson’s lawyer said it was a case of mistaken identity.

The lawyer said his client had never met the victims and it was a dark night.

“We will be calling an alibi to the contest,” he said.

The court was told Kent also denied going to the Eaglehawk address that night, and Williams claimed he was so drunk he didn’t know where he was.

Magistrate William Gibb said it was important the prosecution proved the men were at the house or the case would have to be dismissed.

The case was listed for a further contested hearing on June 19.