A man who used a dog lead to strangle his ex-girlfriend's accused rapist has been sentenced to ten-and-a-half years in prison.

Key points: Brendan McDowall and Shane Heiberg have been jailed for their roles in the manslaughter of Jade Goodwin

Brendan McDowall and Shane Heiberg have been jailed for their roles in the manslaughter of Jade Goodwin McDowall led the attack with boltcutters, electrical cords and eventually a dog lead to strangle Mr Goodwin

McDowall led the attack with boltcutters, electrical cords and eventually a dog lead to strangle Mr Goodwin The judge previously said he was "not satisfied" that a claim Mr Goodwin had raped a woman was true

Brendan McDowall, 53, must serve a minimum term of seven-and-a-half years for the manslaughter of Jade Goodwin in October 2017.

His co-offender, Shane Heiberg, 35, was sentenced to eight years' jail with a non-parole period of five years.

The court heard the men set upon Mr Goodwin on the evening of October 15, 2017, after McDowall's ex-girlfriend Natalie Dalton accused Mr Goodwin of raping her.

Supreme Court Justice Christopher Beale previously said during Dalton's sentencing that he was "not satisfied" that her rape allegation was true.

In sentencing, Justice Beale said the fatal attack was a "serious and protracted assault" that lasted 10 minutes.

Brendan McDowall was jailed after he hit, tied down and then strangled Jade Goodwin. ( Facebook: Brendan McDowall )

Victim hit with boltcutters, tied down

The court heard McDowall led the attack using boltcutters, electrical cords and eventually a dog lead which was used to strangle Mr Goodwin.

Heiberg punched and sat on Mr Goodwin, the court heard.

Mr Goodwin was living temporarily at the home of McOrmond in Hastings on the Mornington Peninsula.

Mr Goodwin's body was found at a vacant Tyabb property on the outskirts of Melbourne. ( ABC News: Elias Clure )

The court heard in addition to the rape accusation, Dalton had said Goodwin's housemate Olivia McOrmond "was a hostage in her own home", Justice Beale said.

Heiberg had told police the plan was to "give him [Goodwin] a belting and then get Olivia out", the judge said.

The court heard McOrmond wanted Mr Goodwin to leave her home and so she left the door of her unit unlocked that night, which allowed McDowall and Heiberg to enter.

At first they thought Mr Goodwin was sleeping, but when they approached him he "launched himself off the bed" to defend himself.

McDowall initially used a pair of boltcutters to strike Mr Goodwin on the head.

Natalie Dalton was jailed for more than two years for her role in Mr Goodwin's death. ( AAP: James Ross )

When Mr Goodwin continued to struggle, McDowall used cable ties and electrical cords to try to subdue him.

Eventually he put a dog lead around Mr Goodwin's neck and "pulled it tighter and tighter, strangling Goodwin to death", court documents said.

McDowall, Heiberg and Dalton then disposed of the body, which was found in a shallow grave on a property at Tyabb in Melbourne's outer-south-east about a week later.

The court heard McDowall had a "significant" criminal record including violence, weapons offences and threats to kill and had used drugs and alcohol since he was a teenager.

Heiberg had no prior convictions.

Partner remembers 'beautiful' man

Mr Goodwin's partner, Tash, and his father, Kerry Bryer, spoke outside court.

"Well, it's never enough, but it's all over. I just want it finished now, move on," Mr Bryer said.

Tash, who had a daughter with Mr Goodwin, described him as a "beautiful" man.

"He was funny, protective, he was amazing and he would never hurt anyone. So I don't know why we're here today."

She said she was relieved the rape allegations against Mr Goodwin were not believed, but did not believe justice had been served.

"I think they should get longer," she said.

"It frightens me more that these girls are out while my daughter is only three years old."

Victim's housemate helped wrap body

In July, Natalie Dalton was sentenced to two-and-a-half years' jail after she pleaded guilty to intentionally causing injury.

With time served, she was eligible for parole last month.

It is not clear whether Dalton was granted parole. The ABC has contacted Corrections Victoria and the Office of Public Prosecutions (OPP) but neither agency would comment.

The Adult Parole Board has a policy of not responding to media enquiries about individual prisoners.

McOrmond was last week given a 12-month community corrections order for her role in assisting the men.

She pleaded guilty to being an accessory to the killing after confessing to police a few days after the body was discovered.

The court heard she had provided a doona cover to the men to wrap Mr Goodwin's body in and had been frightened to come forward sooner because McDowall had claimed to have taken out life insurance on her and her son.