John Joseph Beltrame: Man previously convicted of manslaughter sentenced in court for failing to report, drug offences

A Burnett truck driver previously jailed for killing a teenage prostitute and strangling an adult store employee in shocking night-time attack has been brought back into court on a string of fresh charges. FULL DETAILS:

A South Burnett truck driver previously jailed for the strangling death of a teenage prostitute before later strangling a sex shop worker has been brought back into court on a string of charges.

John Joseph Beltrame was slapped with an 18-month suspended jail term in October last year after pleading guilty to possessing child exploitation material, with the 57-year-old made a reportable child sex offender.

Police prosecutor Sean Franklin this week told Kingaroy Magistrates Court Beltrame had already failed to report three times since his sentence, beginning in February when he did not disclose the truck he had been driving to work within seven days of using it.

The court heard the Nanango resident also failed to comply with obligations to report his personal information and living arrangements as required in both November and February.

Beltrame previously served a 16-year jail sentence for the manslaughter of a 17-year-old prostitute in New South Wales, serving the full term before he was released in 2009.

In 2013 he was jailed for six-and-a-half years’ jail for strangling a female Warwick adult store attendant in Warwick.

Beltrame placed a cord around the woman’s neck and used it to strangled her, with the woman fighting her way to kick open the store’s door and attract attention of passersby.

The then-48-year-old man let go of his victim, claiming she was trying to rob him before fleeing.

He was apprehended a short time later in a local park.

John Joseph Beltrame appeared in Kingaroy Magistrates Court on May 12, 2022.

On April 22 this year, police searched the 57-year-old’s property, uncovering 2g of marijuana and an electric grinder.

Beltrame told the court he suffered “mental instability”, which meant he did not fully understand his reporting requirements.

He also said had been trying out marijuana to help ease back pain, as his prescribed medication prevented him from being able to drive heavy vehicles.

Beltrame pleaded guilty to three counts of failing to comply with reporting and one each of contravening a police requirement, possessing dangerous drugs, and possessing drug utensils.

He was convicted and fined $1750.