Kyneton death driver cleared

TROY Fieldman walked free from court yesterday after he was found not guilty of culpable driving.It took the jury less than 24 hours to return the not guilty verdict after it retired on Thursday afternoon.Fieldman, 38, was standing trial in the Bendigo Supreme Court over the death of 35-year-old Malmsbury motorcyclist Dennis Yannopoulos. He had pleaded not guilty.Yesterday outside court Mr Yannopoulos’s family said they were devastated.Mr Yannopoulos’s brother Andrew said he was ashamed of the judicial system.“I’m devastated,” he said.“I’ve lost my brother and no one has paid for it.“He was the only brother I had and now he’s dead. “The bloke that killed him has walked away. There are no words to describe it.”Mr Yannopoulos died when the stolen trailbike he was riding was hit by Fieldman’s car.He is said to have broken into Fieldman’s garage while he and his family were celebrating Christmas in Taradale.Prosecutor Carmel Barbagallo last week told the court the Fieldman arrived home with his family about 11pm on Christmas Day to find his garage door open and motorcycles belonging to his nephews missing.Fieldman heard one of the trailbikes and followed the sound in his car along Burton Avenue, she said.When he neared the Calder Highway, he saw Mr Yannopoulos riding towards him on one of the bikes.He then did a U-turn in pursuit.Fieldman collided with the back of the trailbike on the Campaspe River Bridge and Mr Yannopoulos was dragged under the car. He died at the scene.The prosecution alleged Fieldman was speeding at the time of impact. However, the defence said Mr Yannopoulos was driving erratically and was drug-affected.