Trent Pearson fronted the Supreme Court in a partial guilty plea over Zane Meyer’s 2020 murder
The devastated parents of a man stabbed to death in an Oakleigh apartment have made heartbreaking victim impact statements at his killer’s plea hearing.
South East
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A young New Zealand man who was fatally stabbed in an Oakleigh hotel room and dumped in a suburban paddock told his parents he was “scared to stay home alone’’ shortly before his horrific death, a court has heard.
Zane Meyer, 26, who was also known as Rànbow Treè, was stabbed multiple times after an argument turned violent in 2020, with an autopsy report concluding he suffered “unsurvivable injuries” to the heart and lungs.
His body was later found in semi-rural land at Lysterfield following an investigation by missing persons squad detectives.
Trent Pearson, 33, appeared in the Supreme Court on April 28 for a plea hearing having already pleaded guilty to manslaughter over his role in the death of Mr Meyer.
The court was told Pearson stabbed Mr Meyer multiple times following an early morning argument at the Punthill Apartments in Oakleigh.
Mr Meyer’s parents gave victim impact statements, with his father, Austin, who appeared via video link from Perth, telling the court burying his child was“heartbreaking”.
“This is my life sentence, I’ll carry this loss for the rest of my life.”
“I feel as though I’ve failed as a father for not being able to protect him.”
“The home he was living in had become dangerous and unstable due to an influx of drugs. He was scared to be home alone,” he said.
“I spoke to him a few days before he disappeared. He was intending to stay a friend’s place. He ended up trusting the wrong people.”
“They killed him and left him in a paddock to rot.”
Mr Meyer said his son was intelligent and always saw the good in people.
“He saw through deceit, and chose to ignore it,” he said through tears.
Mr Meyer’s mother, Andrea, also provided a prepared victim impact statement for the court.
“I am living a mother’s nightmare, I will forever be heartbroken,” the court heard.
“I feel like I’ve had my heart ripped out of my body. I’ll grieve the loss of Zane until the day I die.”
Pearson’s co-offenders have already been sentenced.
Pearson will return to court on May 23 for the remainder of the hearing.
gemma.scerri@news.com.au
