The man who wrapped up a woman’s body, dragged it into his Ford territory and dumped it down a mine shaft learns his fate
- Kobie Parfitt, mother of Ballarat, murdered in April 2020
- Brendon Prestage helped dispose of her body
A man who helped dump the body of the mother of four children down a mine shaft has walked free after a court found he was driven by a feeling of “mistaken loyalty” to her killer.
Kobie Parfitt was beaten and suffocated with a dog leash by 34-year-old Shannon Jeffrey in April 2020 at a Ballarat home.
Jeffrey pleaded guilty to manslaughter and admitted to assaulting the 43-year-old woman over a dispute over the sale of her possessions.
Brendon James Prestage, 33, a friend of Jeffrey’s, then wrapped Ms Parfitt’s body in plastic and used his own Ford Territory to drive to an abandoned gold mine in nearby Snake Valley.
He disposed of Ms Parfitt’s body in the mine shaft and investigators made the gruesome discovery in December 2020, eight months after she went missing.
He pleaded guilty to assisting a felon in connection with manslaughter and was sentenced to two years and three months in prison. But with time served, Prestage was allowed to go free on Monday.
Kobie Parfitt (pictured) was beaten and choked with a dog leash by 34-year-old Shannon Jeffrey in April 2020 at a Ballarat home.
Brendon James Prestage, 33, a friend of Jeffrey’s, then wrapped Ms Parfitt’s body in plastic and used his own Ford Territory to drive to an abandoned gold mine in nearby Snake Valley.
“Mr Prestage’s involvement in the crime was unsophisticated and, in a sense, naive… I accept that Mr Prestage was motivated by misplaced loyalty,” Supreme Court Justice Michael Croucher told the court, The Age reported. .
‘I accept that while Mr. Prestage was directly involved in the removal proceedings, [and] dispose of Mrs. Parfitt’s body, he did so under the direction of Mrs. Jeffrey. Significantly, she identified the site of the mine shaft and directed Mr. Prestage towards it.
Judge Croucher said Croucher got involved by helping Jeffrey remove belongings from Ms. Parfitt’s home.
Jeffrey was convinced that Mrs. Parfitt had sold part of her property while in prison, and he was furious.
Jeffrey pleaded guilty to manslaughter and admitted to assaulting the 43-year-old woman over a dispute over the sale of her possessions.
In the days before her death, Ms. Parfitt began to fear for her safety, even naming Jeffrey as her former partner.
Judge Croucher addressed the tearful relatives of Ms Parfitt, who told them: “All I can say is that I am very sorry for your loss.”
Jeffrey is due to appear in court for a pre-sentence hearing in August.
