A Victorian man has been released on bail to await trial on a manslaughter charge after the death of his former partner last year.

The man originally faced a single charge of murder, but on Wednesday in the Latrobe Valley Magistrate’s Court that charge was dropped.

The man has pleaded not guilty to the charge of manslaughter.

On October 2, 2018, the mans former partner Gayle Potter (pictured) was killed in the driveway of her Traralgon home, after she was allegedly hit by a Mitsubishi Pajero being driven by the man.

Magistrate Jonathan Klestadt said “It’s 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.

A directions hearing will be held on August 21 in the Melbourne Supreme Court.

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