Short term for kill role
Accused gave advice for dumping of body
A DRUG addict who came up with the location to dump teenager Cayleb Hough’s body while he was still alive could walk free after serving less than a year in jail.
The man, who cannot be named due to a court-imposed gag order, was originally charged with the 17-year-old’s murder but later pleaded guilty to assisting an offender.
It can be revealed he may walk free after serving less than a year after a Supreme Court judge agreed to have him assessed for a community corrections order. If approved, he could be released in a few months where he would be required to carry out community work and continue treatment.
It was only minutes into the hearing last Friday before tempers began to boil over.
One woman fronted the man and gave him the finger before storming out of court amid howls of grief.
A group of men were then told to leave the court and never return after a barrage of abuse at the accused.
“F------ dog,” one yelled. “Good night buddy,” another yelled.
Cayleb went missing on December 20, 2015, and was last seen climbing into a bright blue sedan in Melbourne’s southeastern suburbs.
Police allege the other accused man, Thomas Kelson, 28, killed Cayleb sometime that day or the following.
His body was found stuffed down an abandoned mineshaft in the Lerderderg State Park on March 10 last year.
Cayleb’s father, Steve Hough, seethed as graphic details of how his son died were aired in court.
Prosecutor Mark Rochford, QC described the events leading up to Cayleb’s savage murder as bizarre. “This is one of the most bizarre things I’ve come across,” Mr Rochford said.
He told the court Cayleb was attacked after telling his alleged killer he had been forced by bikies to kill his father.
But Mr Kelson’s father was alive and well. Police believe the men were on drugs.
Mr Rochford said Cayleb had been stabbed and brutally beaten when the accused man arrived at the house. He said the man barely knew Mr Kelson, but suggested the abandoned mine shaft as a good place to dump the body.
Mr Kelson allegedly bashed Cayleb to death with knuckledusters on the way there.
He will go on trial for murder in October.