No verdict yet in murder trial

Sean Timothy Hudson, 37, and Neville Lindsay Whiting, 32, both of Ravenswood, have pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Rock on March 29 last year.

The jury started considering its verdict about 11am yesterday and was released after six hours by Justice Peter Evans.

In releasing it, Justice Evans told the jurors they could now find Mr Hudson and Mr Whiting guilty of manslaughter if 10 or more of them agreed, but a verdict of guilty to murder was still required to be unanimous.

The prosecution alleges the men punched, kicked and stomped on Mr Rock's head as he lay on the road at Mornington Drive, Ravenswood, and in doing so they knew or ought to have known that their actions were likely to result in his death.

In the course of the 10-day trial, the jury heard:

That the accused followed Mr Rock up Mornington Drive after he argued with Mr Hudson's partner, Teena Kelly.

That there was an altercation that resulted in Mr Rock's death.

That both men then helped put the body in the back of Ms Kelly's station wagon and drove to a friend's house, where they continued drinking.

That Mr Whiting then drove the station wagon toward Hollybank Forest Reserve and dumped the body by the side of a dirt road.

That both accused cleaned out the back of the car at the Invermay car wash.

That they were arrested after the partially-burnt body was discovered six days later.

Mr Hudson, in an interview with police that was played in court, said he punched Mr Rock twice to the head and walked away as Mr Whiting stomped on his head and hit him with a six-pack of beer.

Mr Whiting, in his police interview, said he stood passively by as Mr Hudson punched Mr Rock and kicked him to the face as he lay on the ground.

The jury will resume its deliberations at 9.30am.