Separate court cases about the deaths of five south-west residents are inching through the criminal justice despite coronavirus pandemic delays.
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Warrnambool's Tim Devey, 52, of Garden Street, is listed to plead guilty to a manslaughter charge in the Victorian Supreme Court on December 3.
Police allege Mr Devey stabbed 45-year-old Warrnambool man Craig Blachford in the abdomen, causing fatal injuries on December 7, 2018.
A police brief tendered to the court previously alleged Mr Devey attended a Cramer Street address at 8.42am that day following a discussion with the flat's occupant about a $150 debt owed to the victim.
It is alleged Mr Devey, Mr Blachford and the flat occupant began drinking at the property.
The mood allegedly became hostile and Mr Blachford became frustrated and angry with the accused.
The victim allegedly began punching the head of the accused who was wearing a bike helmet.
Police alleged Mr Devey then used a concealed knife to stab the victim in the stomach.
The case of Portland man Cameron Oakley, 26, is listed for a trial starting on April 26 next year in the Supreme Court.
He was charged with murder after the fatal stabbing of Portland man Lachlan Hutchins, 24, during the early hours of August 6 last year.
Police allege Mr Oakley and Mr Hutchins knew each other and were both at a toilet block in Henty Street about midnight on August 5 last year.
Just before 12.30am the following morning, Mr Hutchins presented at the Portland Base Hospital with upper body and neck injuries.
The case involving Port Fairy woman Jessica Wilson, 35, is listed for a directions hearing in court on November 26.
Mid this year she was committed to stand trial after pleading not guilty to the alleged stabbing murder of a man in Port Fairy last year.
Ms Wilson entered a not guilty plea to one charge of murder.
She was charged after a man suffered a knife wound and died at a Port Fairy caravan park during the early hours of September 18 last year.
Hamilton man Dale Kennett also has a county court court directions hearing scheduled for December 1 after pleading not guilty to dangerous driving causing death, failing to stop and failing to render assistance earlier this year.
It has been alleged Mr Kennett allegedly struck and killed another man with his car before driving off in Hamilton's Henry Court about 3am on March 10.
The victim, a 48-year-old Hamilton man, died at the scene.
In a separate case, Warrnambool's Paul McDonough has a one-day committal hearing scheduled in the Warrnambool Magistrates Court on January 20 next year.
Mr McDonough, 38, was charged with murder after a 28-year-old woman suffered serious injuries during an alleged assault at her Ocean Grove address in Warrnambool overnight on Tuesday, November 26 last year.
She died in hospital a week later.
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