By VICTORIA STONE-MEADOWS
Daniel Veerman given nine years for manslaughter on top of serving a five-year sentence for a fatal accident…
A MAN serving five years in prison over a fatal hit and run road accident faces a second prison sentence after pleading guilty to the manslaughter of a Kilsyth man, whose decomposed body was found near Olinda Creek Road.
Daniel Veerman was sentenced to a further nine years in prison, with a non-parole period of six years, for the manslaughter of 29-year-old Kyle Scanlon that occurred on 7 March 2011.
It was noted in a transcript from the Supreme Court, obtained by the ‘Mail’, that Veerman, 37, did not show any genuine remorse for his actions during sentencing on 14 May 2015.
Mr Scanlon was last known to be alive and in the company of Veerman about 2pm that day in Mooroolbark when he spoke to his partner, Kristy Coyne, on the phone.
Twelve days later Mr Scanlon’s body was found concealed in a shallow grave, near Olinda Creek Road in the Dandenong Ranges National Park.
It was noted there was no evidence that the killing of Mr Scanlon was in anyway pre-meditated.
Veerman has never revealed exactly what took place between himself and Mr Scanlon that day, nor has he revealed what came of the personal possessions missing from the body of the deceased.
The injuries sustained by Mr Scanlon were consistent with the result of a neck compression, though the exact cause of death cannot be confirmed due to the state of body when it was found.
Judge Hollingworth noted there had been a marked deterioration in the mental health of Veerman in the years leading up to the killing.
Psychiatrist Dr Adam Deacon said in a report from 2011 that Veerman was likely to have been mentally unwell at the time of the offence as well as under the influence of various illicit substances.
The judge was satisfied that Veerman was severely impaired by his mental health at the time of the incident, but not impaired by drug use.
Judge Hollingworth stated he would have given Veerman an 11-year sentence if he had not pleaded guilty to the manslaughter charge.
Veerman is also serving a five-year prison sentence for a hit and run death of a cyclist on Mount Dandenong Road two days after killing Mr Scanlon.
Kyle Scanlon is survived by his partner Kristy Coyne and their five children.
