Hearing adjourned for teen shooting

A 19-year-old Rokeby man charged with the death of a friend in a shooting accident in 2017 appeared at Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court on Thursday for a committal mention hearing.

Lachlan Ward has been charged with a number of offences, including manslaughter, following the death of 17-year-old Dustin Buckley at Neerim East in August 2017.

A second man, Daniel McConnell, 25 of Munro also has been charged with manslaughter but did not appear before Magistrate Belinda Wallington last week.

The matter for both men has been adjourned until March 5 for a committal case conference.

The court heard the defence made an “offer for resolution” on behalf of Mr Ward in December but it was rejected by prosecutors who intended to proceed with the charge of manslaughter.

The court was told there also had been discussions between defence counsel and prosecutors in relation to charges faced by Mr McConnell.

Ms Wallington was told family and friends of Mr Buckley were in court on Wednesday. She said it was in the interests of the family to have the matter resolved as soon as possible.

Mr Ward and Mr McConnell were arrested and charged in October last year following a two year investigation by homicide detectives.

Mr Buckley, of Nayook, suffered life threatening injuries in the incident on August 27.

The court was told the teenager was transferred to Royal Melbourne Hospital where he died on August 29.