Wellington: Aaron Hegedus sentenced for manslaughter of Frank Smith

A man who killed a Central West tradie with a single bullet then fled the scene a few minutes later has been sentenced. Here’s how long he is behind bars for.

A man who killed a beloved Central West grandfather and fled the scene shortly after firing the deadly bullet has been sentenced to at least five more years behind bars.

WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this story contains the name and image of a deceased Indigenous person.

Aaron Hegedus faced Dubbo District Court on Friday after pleading guilty to the 2020 manslaughter of Frank Smith on the front yard of a Wellington property Hegedus shared with his then-partner Leanne Stewart.

The court heard Hegedus shot Mr Smith in the stomach with a .22 Ruger rifle after Smith refused to leave the property until he was supplied what he believed were his “free or discounted” drugs because of family ties.

Judge Karen Robinson said an agreed statement of facts stated there was growing tension between Mr Smith and Stewart after she barred him from her property in the days prior to the shooting.

Frank Smith was killed by Aaron Hegedus on April 27, 2020. Supplied.

On the morning of the shooting, Smith told a witness that he was going to Stewart’s property and was not leaving until he received his dose.

The facts said police had not determined the details of what exactly occurred other than an argument had taken place between Hegedus and Mr Smith before Hegedus fired a single bullet in the general direction of the deceased.

Aaron Hegedus has been sentenced for the manslaughter of Frank Smith, pictured above. Picture: Supplied

The offender drove to Geurie and gave the firearm to a friend.

Mr Smith was assisted to a Wellington hospital, where he died around 10.20am.

Homicide squad detectives arrested Hegedus outside a KFC restaurant in Wellington on October 27, 2021, after an extensive 18-month investigation into the suspicious death.

Stewart was sentenced earlier this month after she pleaded guilty to concealing Mr Smith’s death.

Judge Robinson said Hegedus, now aged 33, admitted to killing Mr Smith to a friend a day after the shooting, however the friend did not believe him because they had been told he died from a heart attack.

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

Judge Robinson said Hegedus had initially denied his involvement in Mr Smith’s death, telling police he was in bed with Stewart at the time.

She recalled parts of victim impact statements by Mr Smith’s daughter Linda Rose Morris and stepdaughter Nycole Robbins stating he was a “devoted father, stepfather and grandfather”.

“His loss to her [Ms Morris] and her daughter is a significant one,” she said.

“It shattered her world into a thousand pieces.”

Judge Robinson acknowledged Hegedus’s upbringing and the lack of positive role models in his formative years.

While listing his background with domestic and family violence, abandonment, unstable accommodation and consistent drug use, she added Hegedus’ background has “left a mark” and “impacted his capacity to learn from his mistakes”.

Judge Robinson convicted and sentenced Hegedus to 10 years and eight months jail, with a non-parole period of seven years.

With time served since his arrest from October 27, 2021, Hegedus will be eligible for parole on October 26, 2028.