Nine years' jail for Vic drug deal killing

Hocking ran to his car and drove off after stabbing Mr McDonald in the neck.

He then fled with his girlfriend and was arrested by police on October 19, 2020, after a five-day manhunt.

The 37-year-old was handed a nine-year jail term in Victoria's Supreme Court on Friday after pleading guilty to manslaughter earlier this year.

Mr McDonald was an associate of Hocking's and bought methamphetamine from him on credit on three occasions but kept putting payment off, the court was told.

On October 12, 2020, Hocking sold him $150 worth of drugs and Mr McDonald promised to pay it back the following day.

Hocking sent him a number of irate messages, demanding payment and warned him to bring boxing gloves, Justice Jane Dixon said.

After calling Mr McDonald several times, Hocking went over to his house in Whittington, near Geelong, about 2.50pm on October 14.

The pair argued and fought in Mr McDonald's front yard, then went into the man's garden shed, before Hocking left to retrieve something from his car. 

He said he was not leaving until he was paid.

Hocking again entered the front yard, where Mr McDonald hit him with a length of electrical conduit, swinging it at Hocking several times.

With a knife in his hand, Hocking swung at Mr McDonald and stabbed him in the neck. 

He ran to his car and drove off, leaving Mr McDonald bleeding profusely. 

He died in hospital later that afternoon. 

Hocking went to his mother's house where he called his girlfriend and told her he had stuffed up and was sorry. 

The couple went on the run for several days until he was arrested by police following a media appeal.

"The effective gravity your crime is made worse by the fact that after you managed to stab Mr McDonald you chose to save your own skin rather than stopping to help him," Justice Dixon said

Hocking will be eligible for parole after six-and-a-half years in prison.

One year and nine months of pre-sentence detention was recognised as time served.