Jade Goodwin: Olivia McOrmond walks free for role in death of father buried in shallow grave
A woman who helped hide the shocking killing of a dad who was hit in the head with bolt cutters, strangled and buried in a shallow grave in Tyabb has walked free from court, despite having a “reasonably extensive criminal history”.
South East
Don't miss out on the headlines from South East . Followed categories will be added to My News.
A mother who helped conceal the revenge killing of a father has walked free from court.
Olivia McOrmond, 47, who was sentenced in the Supreme Court on September 3, was found to know or believe that between October 15, 2017 and October 22, 2017 her associates Brendan McDowall, Shane Heiberg and Natalie Dalton were guilty of manslaughter.
McDowall and Heiberg killed 39-year-old father Jade Goodwin while he was living at McOrmond’s Hastings unit on October 15, 2017.
Dalton told her ex-boyfriend McDowell and his friend Heiberg that Mr Goodwin raped her.
Dalton also told the men that McOrmond wanted Goodwin out of her Victoria St unit.
McOrmond left the front door of her unit open so McDowell and Heiberg could easily enter and confront Mr Goodwin.
A violent struggle ensued where Mr Goodwin was struck to the head with bolt cutters.
MORE MAN 'LUCKY TO BE ALIVE' AFTER FRANKSTON STABBING
WOMAN BASHER TRADIE AVOIDS JAIL TIME
DRUNK THUG JAILED FOR BASHING DISABLED NEIGHBOUR
It was McDowell who wrapped a dog lead around the father’s neck and strangled him to death.
McOrmond, who was inside the unit when Mr Goodwin was killed, provided a doona cover to McDowell to conceal the body.
Mr Goodwin’s body was discovered in a shallow grave at a property on Dandenong-Hastings Rd, Tyabb, on October 22.
Two days later — and nine days after Mr Goodwin’s death — McOrmond made an anonymous report to Crime Stoppers in which she reported the father had been killed by “Brendan”.
She provided a description of McDowall’s age, appearance and his vehicle.
McOrmond also stated she knew “it was time to come forward” but was “fearful to do so”.
She also reported that “Brendan” was “constantly watching” her and he had taken out an “insurance policy” on her and her son.
McOrmond was arrested in June, 2018 and charged with murder and false imprisonment. But these charges were later downgraded.
Justice Christopher Beale said McOrmond was an “accessory after the fact” in the “tragedy” that was Mr Goodwin’s death.
“Although Dalton was not criminally responsible for Goodwin’s death, it is the fact that you believed Dalton was guilty of manslaughter at the time of your offending that is relevant to your sentence,” he said.
“However, given that your assistance was brief and limited to the provision of the doona cover following a request from McDowall, of whom you were frightened, I regard your offending as falling at the lower end of the mid-range.”
Justice Beale said McOrmond had “reasonable prospects of rehabilitation” despite the long-term drug user having a “reasonably extensive criminal history”.
He sentenced her to 84 days — time already served — after she plead guilty to one charge of assisting an offender.
McOrmond walked free from court with a 12 month community corrections order.
The prosecution originally alleged Dalton was also responsible for manslaughter but she pleaded guilty to the lesser charge intentionally causing serious injury.
Dalton was sentenced in July to 30 months’ imprisonment with a non-parole period of 20 months
McDowall and Heiberg will be sentenced for manslaughter next week.