Shayne Johnson: Bail denied for man charged with manslaughter

A Sydney man has been charged with manslaughter after he allegedly decided not to call an ambulance when someone he had supplied drugs to overdosed.

Shayne Johnson was denied bail at Parramatta Court.

An alleged drug supplier has been charged with manslaughter, with police alleging he left a block of flats and chose not to call an ambulance when a man he gave drugs to overdosed, a court heard.

On Friday Shayne Johnson appeared via videolink at Parramatta Bail Court after he was arrested by police on December 22.

Johnson is charged with committing manslaughter in October 2021.

Police will allege Johnson, along with a co-accused, arranged for drugs to be supplied to a now deceased man, the court heard.

The man died from an overdose, with a forensic pathologist determining the cause of death as a lethal mix of heroin and methamphetamine, the court heard.

Shayne Johnson was denied bail at Parramatta Bail Court. Picture: Justin Sanson.

Police will further allege Johnson and the co-accused left the deceased man’s flat after he became unconscious and they made the decision not to call an ambulance or seek medical assistance.

Magistrate John McIntosh told the court the forensic pathologist said medical intervention would have increased the deceased’s chances of survival.

“The prosecution case is gross negligence … (which) showed a complete disregard for human life,” Mr McIntosh said.

“It is a circumstantial case but inferences can be drawn.”

But Johnson’s defence lawyer said the prosecution’s case relies on “conjecture (and) speculation,” adding: “There is a large gap in the police facts”.

The defence had additional concerns with the length of time – over one year – it took the police to lay charges.

“The police had this information and chose not to inform us or the court,” the defence said.

The defence lawyer also raised text messages between Johnson and the co-accused which he said showed his client was not responsible for the man’s death.

But Mr McIntosh said the prosecution could claim this conversation was planned.

“(An inference can be drawn) that they were trying to distance themselves from his death,” he said.

Mr McIntosh told the court Johnson has a long history of drug offences.

The court also heard Johnson had just been released from rehab on December 19 – three days before he was arrested.

Mr McIntosh refused Johnson’s bail application, citing the risk of failing to appear due to the seriousness of the alleged offences and endangering the safety of the community as his reasons.

Having been denied bail, Johnson’s matter is next due to appear before Downing Centre Court on March 13, 2023.