Damien Russell Janson pleads guilty to manslaughter

The driver who hit and killed 24-year-old Jake Smith at Maddingley last year has pleaded guilty to a downgraded charge.

Damien Janson, 31, faced the Ballarat Magistrates’ Court where he pleaded guilty to a charge of manslaughter. Jake Smith. Smith, 24, died after he was struck by a ute on Woolpack Road at Maddingley.

A man accused of a fatal hit and run has pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

Damien Russell Janson, 31, from Bacchus Marsh, was charged with the murder of Werribee man Jake Smith, after the 24-year-old was struck by a ute on Woolpack Road at Maddingley on May 20 last year.

Janson was a passenger in the ute.

But Janson’s single charge of murder was withdrawn and instead he faced a downgraded offence of manslaughter when he appeared in the Ballarat Magistrates’ Court via video link from prison on Thursday.

Asked by magistrate Ron Saines how he pleaded to the one count of manslaughter, Janson replied “guilty your honour.”

He made no application for bail.

Janson will face the Supreme Court for a post committal directions hearing on February 24.