Aspiring rapper Lachlan ‘Drips’ Belmore sentenced for manslaughter of Griffin Harris

The devastated parents of a Kalkallo man killed over a $250 drug debt have spoken of their anguish at his killer’s sentencing.

Lachlan Belmore being escorted into Supreme Court on Friday May 3, ahead of being sentenced over the murder of 22-year-old Griffin Harris in 2022. Picture: David Geraghty

The mother of a man killed over a $250 drug debt says “part of her is gone forever” after her son’s death in a violent home invasion in Melbourne north.

Griffin Harris, 22, was shot and killed during a late night confrontation over a $250 drug debt in Kalkallo in September 2022.

Lachlan Belmore, 25, pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court on May 3 to one charge of manslaughter, for his role in the death of Mr Harris.

Mr Harris and his partner were woken shortly after 4am on September 21 after hearing banging and kicking at the front door of their home.

Kalkallo man Griffin Harris was fatally shot in the chest on September 21, 2022. Picture: Facebook

The court heard Mr Harris’ girlfriend was confronted by a man with a balaclava and a gun in the hallway, before fleeing to a neighbour’s property to call for help.

Mr Harris was then attacked by the offender, sustaining injuries to his head, left arm and abdomen, before being shot in the upper chest.

He was declared dead at 5.55am.

In court on Friday, Mr Harris’ parents gave victim impact statements, with his father, Kevin, telling the court he “has no enjoyment in his life”.

Mr Harris’ mother, Lorraine, said her son’s murder has “changed her life forever”.

“A part of me is gone forever,” she tearfully told the court.

“I mourn for everything he will never be able to do.”

“Sometimes I still think I hear him coming home through the front door”.

In sentencing, Justice Rita Incerti told the court that while the prosecution couldn’t prove he was the shooter, Belmore’s involvement “extended beyond him attending the house in the middle of the night”.

The aspiring rapper was sentenced in the Supreme Court for one manslaughter charge. Picture: Supplied

“You were carrying the long-arm rifle that you brought with you in the car,” she said.

“You planned the attack on his house, you organised and brought the rifle with you.”

The court heard Belmore went to Mr Harris’ home with three other co-offenders, Peter Batsanes, Troy Allen Smith and Dean Bell, where they agreed to threatening Mr Harris with the gun for the $250 drug debt repayment.

Prior to the murder of Mr Harris, he and Belmore had a period of increasing animosity, resulting in the subsequent retaliation on September 21.

Justice Incerto said the “senseless tragedy” was made worse by Belmore immediately fleeing the property and “disposing of the rifle”.

The gun still has not been recovered.

Belmore will spend a minimum of five-and-a-half years behind bars. Picture: Supplied

The court heard Belmore became addicted to methamphetamines when he was 17.

“This offending is a significant escalation from your priors,” Justice Incerto said.

“You were involved in the commission of the offence of manslaughter, you were central to the planning of the confrontation and the obtaining of the rifle.”

“You were the instigator of the plan, and facilitated the event of the offending, all over a $250 drug debt.”

Justice Incerto told the court she had taken Belmore’s plea of guilty into account as a signal of remorse.

Belmore was sentenced to serve nine years’ jail, with a five-and-a-half year non-parole period.

Belmore’s co-accused’s all pleaded guilty.

Peter Batsanes and Troy Allen Smith were sentenced in 2023.

Batsanes pleaded guilty to home invasion and was sentenced to three years and six months behind bars with a two-year non-parole period.

Smith pleaded guilty to home invasion and was sentenced to six years and six months behind bars with a non-parole period of five years.

Dean Bell will be sentenced later in the year.