Man sentenced over manslaughter
SHAIN Richard Williams, who killed a man with a baseball bat in a Coffs Harbour caravan park three years ago was sentenced in a Sydney court today.
Williams, 29, formerly of Vincent St pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Rodney Jenkins in 2009 after the 59-year-old intervened in a violent dispute.
Sentenced by Justice Peter Hidden in the NSW Supreme Court this afternoon Williams was ordered to serve six years in jail back dated to October 2009.
Carrying a non parole period of three years and nine months, the sentence means he could be eligible for release next year.
Justice Hidden noted Mr Jenkins had been an "innocent bystander".
The court heard Williams had been drinking with his father Trevor at a party on October 22, 2009.
Another man, Barry Gration, had taken exception to the way Trevor Williams had treated a woman and after a verbal argument with Shain Williams took her to the caravan park.
Williams later arrived at the location carrying the baseball bat and struck Mr Gration with it twice to the face.
Police facts said he was heard to sat "F... with my old man, f... with me".
Mr Jenkins then intervened and was struck with the bat to the side of the head by Williams.
Mr Jenkins was rushed to Coffs Harbour Base Hospital with severe head injuries and was airlifted to Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospital, but died.
Williams was later arrested by Coffs Harbour police some six hours after the incident.
