A Queensland man who buried a travel companion in a bush grave and then assumed his identity has been sentenced to six years in a West Australian prison.
Robert Troy Scanlon, 45, had been on the run for several offences when he met 55-year-old Dean Patrick White and they began travelling together until Mr White died in rural camp area near Quairading in the Wheatbelt region.
Scanlon crashed Mr White's car in Queensland in June 2017 and fled, leaving behind Mr White's identification cards, the WA District Court was told on Thursday.
He was arrested in August 2017 and his connection to Mr White was discovered.
Scanlon only made admissions to police when confronted with the irrefutable, incriminating evidence of recorded telephone calls to a bank in which he pretended to be Mr White.
He also disclosed the burial site, which allowed Mr White's family to mourn and give him a dignified funeral, Judge John Staude said.
Scanlon told police Mr White fell from the roof of his vehicle, hitting his head on the trailer. He did not help.
When Mr White died, Scanlon buried him, believing he would be blamed because he had done time for attempted murder.
"I freaked out thinking ... they're going to blame me for this 'cause I'm wanted on the run from Queensland."
Judge Staude said Mr White's disappearance and the discovery of his remains would have caused enormous anxiety and distress to his loved ones.
"You showed a particularly callous disregard of the dignity of Mr White by burying his body in a remote, shallow, bush grave where it was unlikely to be discovered and where it was in fact concealed for more than a year," he said.
Scanlon pleaded guilty to interfering with a corpse and was also sentenced for stealing registration plates and two vehicles, giving false details to police and three counts of fraud.
He must spend at least four years behind bars before he can be eligible for parole.
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