Guilty plea over supermarket death

The manslaughter charge relates to the death of Mooroopna man Bjorn Delphine, 46, who was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries after an assault by Atkinson at Woolworths in Mooroopna on May 22.

Mr Delphine died in hospital on June 5.

In court on Tuesday, October 31, the prosecutor officially withdrew eight other charges that had earlier been laid against Atkinson, including one of murder.

The additional charge of manslaughter — to which he pleaded guilty — was officially put to Atkinson in court on Tuesday.

A large number of Atkinson’s supporters were in court on Tuesday for the proceedings, as Atkinson appeared on video link from prison where he has been remanded in custody.

Some wiped tears as magistrate Marita Altman committed Atkinson to appear in the Supreme Court on the two charges.

He was remanded in custody to next appear in court in November at a directions hearing.