A BODY believed to that of murdered Mount Gambier man Gordon Hamm has been found in bushland north-west of Casterton.
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Detectives from the cold case and missing persons squad discovered the body in bushland near Dergholm about 11am Thursday.
Thursday's search came after investigators from the cold case and missing persons squad were provided with further information about the possible location of Mr Hamm's body.
The body will now be subject to forensic examination.
Mr Hamm was a passenger in a silver Toyota Corolla sedan driven by a female friend which was boxed in by two four-wheel-drives on the bridge over the Glenelg River at Nelson about 4am on July 17, 2013.
Three men got out of the vehicles, removed Mr Hamm and bashed him as they dragged him away. One shot is believed to have been fired and residents told police they could hear the violent assault and screams.
Mr Hamm was believed to have been in Portland to buy drugs after earlier winning between $5000 and $6000 on the pokies.
Mark Moreland, 37, Christopher Tippins, 30, and Tai Thorp, 22, all from Mount Gambier, were charged with his murder after a joint operation between South Australian and Victorian police involving more than 60 officers.
The trio were extradited to Victoria and faced trial in December last year. They were found not guilty of murder but were found guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter.
They will be sentenced in February.
jwoolley@fairfaxmedia.com.au