Australia, Iron bar killer jailed for 11 years

OFF THE WIRE
Source: abc.net.au
A man who beat another to death with an iron bar has been jailed for at least 11 years.

Steven Aubery Kelleher, 40, killed his 62-year-old house mate, Rodney Ahmat, at their rented farmhouse at Mundoora near Port Broughton in the mid-north of South Australia last December.

A jury acquitted him of murder but found him guilty of manslaughter.

The trial in the Supreme Court at Port Augusta heard Ahmat was struck on the head seven times with an iron bar by Kelleher after a day of heavy drinking by the pair at a birthday celebration.

Justice Ann Vanstone said Kelleher got angry after Ahmat started talking about the Rebels Motorcycle Club.

She said while the killing was provoked, she was satisfied the assault was not in self-defence.

Kelleher was sentenced to 13 years and nine months in jail, with a non-parole term of 11 years.