Anthony Costanzo admits mowing down man with a truck

A 76-year-old man was killed by a maniac truck driver after he had gone to investigate a suspected burglary at a Doncaster East business.

A maniac truck driver enlisted the help of his cronies before he ran down and killed and elderly man after he was suspected of breaking into a Melbourne business.

The tragedy unfolded at Tidcombe Crescent at Doncaster East when Anthony Costanzo struck Peter Row, 76, just before midnight on September 3, 2023,

Details of the events leading to his death were outlined in the Supreme Court on Wednesday when Costanzo appeared for a plea hearing after earlier pleading guilty to a charge of manslaughter.

The court heard the tragic incident began after Costanzo, an unlicensed driver drove the truck that belonged to his employer We Do Temporary Fencing, into the carpark of Hansen Technologies where Mr Row worked.

Homicide detectives investigating the death of Peter Row on Tidcombe Crescent at Doncaster East.

Mr Row was informed about the truck’s presence and drove to the site in his Holden Commodore and parked it behind the truck. Costanzo then reversed the truck and hit the Commodore before driving off.

Mr Row followed him and also called triple-000 to report a suspected burglary at his workplace and damage to his car.

Before the intersection of Fredrick St and Doncaster Rd, Costanzo stopped and reversed the truck, forcing Mr Row to take evasive action.

The court heard that Costanzo called his mum who was with her partner, his brother and former police officer turned meth head Jamie Robert McKenzie who all came to help Costanzo.

Mr McKenzie picked up a steel gate and partially blocked the Holden Commodore as the car slowed down before Mr Row accelerated and struck a man, who was with Mr McKenzie, knocking him to the ground.

Peter Row was mowed down by an unlicensed truck driver on Tidcombe Crescent at Doncaster East following a road rage.

Mr Row drove away and stopped on Tidcombe Cres, parked his Holden with its head lights on, got out and stood on the road before Costanzo ran him over.

Mr Row wasn’t discovered until about 5.40am when a woman on her way found his bloodied body on the scene

Defence lawyer Georgina Connelly said Costanzo didn’t intend to harm Mr Row and that his actions were spontaneous and unplanned.

She said Costanzo was “afraid” at being pursued by Mr Row and that he didn’t know how many people were in the Holden Commodore.

Costanzo will be sentenced at a later date.