Vic: Man jailed three-and-a-half years for killing friend

AAP General News (Australia)
12-19-2003
Vic: Man jailed three-and-a-half years for killing friend

A Melbourne man caught digging a grave for a friend's body has been jailed for a minimum
three-and-a-half years for manslaughter.

Supreme Court judge BERNARD TEAGUE has imposed a maximum sentence of five-and-a-half
years on GABRIEL OMAR CHANG, who was acquitted of murder.

It was the second trial 35-year-old CHANG has faced over the death.

The first trial resulted in a murder conviction and an 18 year maximum jail term.

He was granted a new trial by the Victorian Court of Appeal which ruled the original
trial judge failed to properly instruct the jury on CHANG'S conduct after the woman's
death.

CHANG attacked DIANNE LEIGH PSAILA after an argument about money at his home in Melton
in November 1999.

He said the death was accidental and that he tried to bury the body in a panic.

Justice TEAGUE today said he's satisfied there was a violent attack on Ms PSAILA by
CHANG, but accepts that he didn't intend to kill or seriously injure her.

AAP RTV sew/dk/rcg/rp

KEYWORD: CHANG (MELBOURNE)

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