Shannon Jeffrey jailed for killing Ballarat mother Kobie Parfitt

A woman who brutally bashed a friend as she begged for her life before dumping her body in a mine shaft and spreading rumours she had fled the state to cover up her crime has learnt her fate.

Shannon Jeffrey has been sentenced for killing Ballarat mum Kobie Parfitt.

The woman who bashed a Ballarat mum to death while she begged for her life on her knees has been sentenced in Supreme Court nearly three and a half years after the killing.

Shannon Jeffrey, now 34, was sentenced to 10 years in prison with a non-parole period of seven years and 748 days already served for her role in the brutal incident.

Kobie Parfitt, 43, lived at a home on Hickman St in Ballarat Central from 2018, and in the days leading up to her death expressed concerns for her welfare and asked a former partner for help to no avail.

Several people including Ballarat woman Jeffrey went to Ms Parfitt’s house on April 28, 2020.

Jeffrey was “incensed” because she believed Ms Parfitt had disposed of her property while Jeffrey had been in prison and that Ms Parfitt had informed on her to the police.

Jeffrey, who had taken methamphetamine that day, “bashed and killed” Ms Parfitt, ignoring her pleas to be taken to her father’s house or to the police.

Jeffrey hung Ms Parfitt’s body in a wardrobe to make the death look like a suicide.

With the help of 33-year-old Brendon James Prestage, Jeffrey then dumped Ms Parfitt’s body in a Snake Valley mine shaft.

She lied to a real estate agent, saying Ms Parfitt had fled to Queensland, and began living in her home.

The rumours Jeffrey spread meant Ms Parfitt was not reported missing for more than three months after her death, and not found until late 2020.

When Jeffrey pointed out the spot where she had killed Ms Parfitt to a visitor, she appeared “proud of herself”.

Kobie Parfitt. Photo: Victoria Police

Jeffrey was initially charged with murder, but prosecutors later accepted an offer for her to plead guilty to manslaughter.

She did so in August, after which Ms Parfitt’s family members told the Supreme Court they would “never forgive” the woman who robbed them of a loved one.

Justice Croucher told the Supreme Court on Friday that Jeffrey showed “cruelty and callousness”.

He said she had “oodles of time to reflect on her actions” and lessen the suffering of Ms Parfitt’s family.

The court heard Jeffrey’s father was frequently intoxicated and rarely affectionate during her upbringing.

Jeffrey had problems with alcohol and drugs as she grew up and suffered in abusive relationships.

The court heard she expressed remorse for Ms Parfitt’s killing, which made her “feel awful”.

Jeffrey now wishes to pursue a career in geology.

“I’m terribly sorry for your loss,” Justice Croucher told Ms Parfitt’s family as the hearing concluded.

Prestage pleaded guilty to assisting an offender with manslaughter and was sentenced earlier this year.