Glenn Stratton: Castlemaine murder accused pleads to lesser charges

A Castlemaine tradie initially charged with murdering an elderly man has pleaded to assisting suicide.

Glenn Stratton, 53, appeared in Bendigo Magistrates Court to plead guilty to aiding and abetting the suicide of an 80-year-old Castlemaine man in his home on Monday May 24, 2020. Picture: Facebook

A Castlemaine tradie initially charged with murdering an elderly man has pleaded guilty to assisting suicide, a court has heard.

Glenn Stratton, 53, appeared in Bendigo Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday for a committal hearing over the death of an 80-year-old man from Castlemaine on May 24 2020.

The court heard the murder charge was withdrawn by the prosecution, with a new charge of aiding and abetting a suicide presented to court which Stratton pleaded guilty to.

Stratton, who was granted bail, is still living at the Castlemaine home where the 80-year-old died.

Glenn Stratton, 53, appeared in Bendigo Magistrates Court to plead guilty to aiding and abetting the suicide of an 80-year-old Castlemaine man in his home on Monday May 24, 2020. Picture: Facebook

At the time of the incident a crime scene was established around the elderly man’s home where his body was found at 10.45am.

Stratton was taken into custody shortly after and charged with murder.

It is not clear what relationship the accused shared with the victim.

Magistrate Russell Kelly said Stratton’s case would move to the Victorian Supreme Court, with an initial appearance set for October 27.

This was Stratton’s second appearance in the Bendigo Magistrates’ Court, having appeared in a filing hearing a day after the elderly man’s death in May.

In the initial hearing 16 family and friends of the victim walked into the courtroom in solidarity.

On Monday the courtroom was almost empty, with the proceedings occurring over video links.

Stratton’s bail was extended.