Leanne Rachel Stewart: Pleaded guilty to concealing a serious indictable offence after Aaron Hegedus shot Frank Smith

A woman who was accused of assisting her partner in concealing information when he killed a local tradesman has pleaded guilty. Read the story here.

A Central West woman – who is already serving time for drug supply – has pleaded guilty to concealing information from police when her partner killed a local tradesman.

Her partner, Aaron Hegedus, 33, who shot and killed 48-year-old Frank Smith will be sentenced in November after pleading guilty to the manslaughter of the Wellington handyman in April 2020.

Frank Smith, man who was shot in Wellington in April 2020.

Stewart’s initial charge of accessory to murder has been withdrawn and replaced with concealing a serious indictable offence.

She appeared in Dubbo Local Court via an audiovisual link on Thursday to enter a guilty plea.

Mr Smith was taken to Wellington Hospital on the afternoon of April 27, with a gunshot wound, where he later died that night.

Hegedus shot Mr Smith with a .22 Ruger rifle before Mr Smith stumbled into a front yarn on Thornton St before he was taken to hospital.

Frank Smith murder: Police arrest Wellington man Aaron Hedegus outside a KFC restaurant on October 27, 2021. Picture: NSW Police

Following Mr Smith’s death, an 18-month police investigation commenced before Hegedus was arrested in front of Wellington’s KFC in October 2021.

At the time of the incident, Mr Smith was remembered in tributes as a “really nice bloke” who was always “polite”.

Stewart will appear in Dubbo District Court on August 28 for mention.