A Victorian man has been released on bail to await trial on a manslaughter charge after the death of his former partner last year.
Glenn Graeme Martyn originally faced a single charge of murder, but today in the Latrobe Valley Magistrate's Court that charge was dropped.
Mr Martyn has pleaded not guilty to the charge of manslaughter.
On October 2, 2018, Mr Martyn's former partner Gayle Potter was killed in the driveway of her Traralgon home, after she was hit by a Mitsubishi Pajero allegedly being driven by Mr Martyn.
Magistrate Jonathan Klestadt said "it is almost impossible that he did not know that he struck her, or that the contact was merely incidental".
Their two children were home at the time but did not see their mother being hit by the car.
But the Magistrate determined that the Crown case for murder could not be sustained.
Courtroom cheers
For the last three days the courtroom has been filled with supporters of Mr Martyn, who cheered when the Magistrate ruled the murder charge would not be pursued.
Mr Martyn did not show any emotion during the proceedings, but kept his forehead in his right hand and stared at the ground.
The Crown lawyer Diana Karamicov opposed the application for bail.
A directions hearing will be held on August 21 in the Melbourne Supreme Court.
