Billy Guest murder charge against Harry Dickenson dropped
A grieving mother whose son was found dead in Belmont has revealed her anguish after a murder charge against his accused killer was dropped last week.
Geelong
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A mother whose son was found dead in a Belmont park says she’s been let down by the justice system, and doesn’t know how she will explain to her grandkids that a murder charge against his accused killer was dropped.
It follows a revelation in court Roxanne Ryder’s son, Billy Guest, was shot, likely fatally, in the abdomen followed by two shots in the back at a house at Kana St, Grovedale in December 2019.
On Friday Harry Dickenson walked from the Supreme Court in Geelong days before he was due to face a murder trial.
Ms Ryder, who watched as Mr Dickenson walked, said she was devastated.
“I am just disgusted in our justice system. My son was shot three times. I am in shock at the moment,” Ms Ryder said.
“My grandsons will grow up without their dad. When they get older how am I supposed to explain this to the kids?”
“It’s been a nightmare. I don’t even know the person I am. I suffer deep dark depression. My life isn’t what it was when Billy was here. I hate life now without Billy here.
“I don’t even know how I am going to carry on with life because of what’s happened.
“I just feel there should have been some justice.
The Supreme Court previously heard it was alleged Mr Dickenson shot Mr Guest at the Grovedale house after a drug deal went wrong.
Mr Guest’s body was found 11kms away at Barwon Valley Park days before Christmas 2019.
An eyewitness told police Mr Guest was armed with a sawn-off shotgun at the time he was shot.
On Friday Supreme Court Justice Jane Dixon hinted the case was discontinued due to difficulty proving Mr Guest’s killer was not acting in self defence.
“These decisions made by the director (of public prosecutions) are usually made with a great deal of conscious consideration and consultation,” Justice Dixon said.
“(There is a) very significant burden on the Crown in criminal cases to establish that a person did not act in self defence and to establish that beyond reasonable doubt, that being the highest standard known to the law.”
After Mr Dickenson’s charge was dropped, Justice Dixon said: “He is free to leave the court, he is discharged on the indictment and that’s the end of the matter.”
Forensic pathologist Joanna Glengarry who examined Mr Guest’s body following his death told the Supreme Court this week the front-on gunshot to his abdomen was likely fatal.
“Out in the community death is a likely consequence,” Ms Glengarry said of the injury caused by the gunshot.
Ms Glengarry told the court she could not conclude if Mr Guest was shot in the back at close range.
Specifics about why the murder charge was dropped were not heard in court.
According to police evidence put before the court, Mr Guest was shot as he went to retrieve his wallet.
The court was told during a previous hearing three other people were at the Grovedale property when Mr Guest was shot.
There’s no suggestion any of the three were responsible for the shooting.
The court was told a firearm was found to contain Mr Dickenson’s DNA, and Mr Guest allegedly spoke to Mr Dickenson on the phone before his death.
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