A MAN found dead at a property near Holbrook earlier this year had a tyre mark from a vehicle on his left shoulder and head, a court has been told.
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Troy Wetmore, 35, was discovered about 80 metres from a house on a property known as Carabobala Lodge on April 8.
He had earlier been involved in a fight with Anthony Craig Cromb, who has been charged with his manslaughter.
Cromb, 53, of St James, near Yarrawonga, appeared in Albury Local Court yesterday and was committed to stand trial in the District Court with the case listed for mention on October 13.
Director of Public Prosecutions representative Andrew Hanshaw yesterday amended the indictment with the offence alleged to have happened between 8pm and 8.30pm.
A police brief of evidence was tendered which outlined the circumstances of the death.
Mr Wetmore lived with his father at Carabobala Lodge, which is about six kilometres from Holbrook on the Culcairn Road.
Cromb lived in a caravan on the property from Monday to Friday and worked with Mr Wetmore at Roads and Maritime Services at Holbrook.
Mr Wetmore took Cromb’s Ford Ranger without permission to drive into Holbrook after they had earlier been splitting wood.
Cromb had watched television with Mr Wetmore’s father and found his vehicle missing when he left to return to his caravan.
When Mr Wetmore got back to the property, Cromb opened the driver’s door and punched him to the face before pulling him from the vehicle.
Cromb got in his car, drove to the back of the house and went inside.
“I smashed him. He is lying on the ground out the front,” Cromb told Mr Wetmore’s father.
Mr Wetmore was found lying face down on the driveway about 80 metres from the house and he had no pulse.
His father went back to the house, rang triple-0 and drove his vehicle back to the scene to light the area. Emergency personnel arrived and Mr Wetmore was pronounced dead.
A later analysis revealed he had a blood alcohol reading of 0.262 and his death was caused by head injuries.
There was blood found on Cromb’s shirt and boots and a crime scene examination revealed the tyre mark on Mr Wetmore’s shoulder and head.
When later interviewed by police, Cromb admitted punching Mr Wetmore and dragging him from his vehicle.