Trent Pearson sentenced to 8 years, six months after pleading guilty to manslaughter
A man who had only just been released from jail after a six-year stint for a string of armed robberies fatally stabbed a man in a Oakleigh hotel room after an argument over drugs.
South East
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A brutal killer was barely out of jail after serving a six-year term for a string of armed robberies when he fatally stabbed a New Zealand man in an Oakleigh apartment multiple times in the chest and neck.
Trent Pearson, 33, faced the Supreme Court on Tuesday for sentencing after earlier pleading guilty to manslaughter for his role in Zane Meyer’s death on May 12, 2020.
The court was told Mr Meyer — who was also known as Rànbow Treè — was unknown to Pearson.
Judge Jane Dixon said Pearson had a “lesser involvement” in the lead up to Mr Meyer’s death, which included an argument over money and drugs between Mr Meyer and Pearson’s co-offenders.
Mr Meyer, 26, was stabbed multiple times after an argument turned violent, with an autopsy report concluding he suffered “unsurvivable injuries” to the heart and lungs. His body was later found in semirural land at Lysterfield following an investigation by missing persons squad detectives.
Pearson had spent most of his life behind bars, spending just five weeks on the outside in the past 10 years.
A significant portion of his time inside had been served in management units or solitary confinement including during the Covid pandemic where lockdowns were common.
Judge Jane Dixon said while Pearson’s own behaviour had contributed to the restrictive nature of his jail terms and time on remand, he had done “harder time” than others in custody.
She said there was a lack of appropriate support for Pearson when he was released from jail on April 24, 2020 while Melbourne was in the middle of its first Covid lockdown.
Pearson had been anxious about leaving jail, had been taken off antipsychotic medication and was unable to seek support from family in Queensland, Ms Dixon said.
He also suspected prison officers of poisoning his food.
The court was told a childhood marred by violence and exposure to significant alcohol and
drug abuse had set Pearson on a path to incarceration.
He was diagnosed with ADHD while in primary school and subjected to bullying about his weight.
At 12, Pearson was sent from Queensland to Melbourne to live with his father, who was an alcoholic and frequent cannabis user.
Pearson began drinking and was often “severely intoxicated”.
He also used cannabis.
In determining his sentence Ms Dixon took into account Pearson’s early plea, the difficulties he faced on remand during the Covid pandemic, his mental health challenges and his traumatic childhood.
She also acknowledged the “grievous loss” wreaked upon Mr Meyer’s family over the death of their son.
Pearson was jailed for eight years and six months with a minimum term of six years, including the 1109 days he has served on remand.
