A sentencing hearing against the man who killed four people during a shooting in Darwin three years ago has heard mixed opinions about whether he was in a drug-induced psychosis at the time.
Key points:
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Benjamin Hoffmann has pleaded guilty to three counts of murder and one count of manslaughter
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He faces a mandatory life sentence of at least 25 years without parole
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He is expected to be convicted by Judge John Burns in late July
Four men – Hassan Baydoun, Michael Sisois, Robert Courtney and Nigel Hellings – were killed during the attack on the night of June 4, 2019.
Last year, Benjamin Glenn Hoffmann, 48, pleaded guilty to three counts of murder and one count of manslaughter halfway through what was expected to be a nine-week trial.
Offenders who commit multiple murders in the Northern Territory are subject to mandatory life imprisonment for a minimum period of 25 years without parole.
That Hoffmann receive a longer period without parole could be affected by the judge’s determination of his level of guilt during the crime.
Hoffmann’s defense team has suggested that he was experiencing delusions and paranoia at the time with methamphetamine-induced psychosis.
However, the prosecution claims that Hoffmann was only experiencing drug-induced intoxication and was fully aware that his actions were wrong.
On Friday, the Supreme Court heard three psychiatrists submit separate reports saying they believed Hoffmann was likely suffering from drug-induced psychosis during the shooting.
But Crown prosecutor Lloyd Babb SC told the court that Hoffmann at all times “appreciated the illegality of his actions”.
Babb said there were several examples to support his point, including that Hoffman told a witness not to call police or he would “blow his head off.”
“I didn’t want him to call the police because he knew he was doing wrong at the time,” Babb said.
Crown prosecutor Lloyd Babb SC led the case against Benjamin Hoffmann. (ABC News: Che Chorley)
The prosecutor told the court that Hoffman took “conscious choices” on the night of the shootings over who to execute and who to save.
“He was acting extremely violently, but he was acting in a way aimed at a target, as he was looking for a man to whom he held a grudge,” Babb said.
Babb also said Hoffmann’s criminal record showed he had committed violent crimes in the past and therefore the shootings were not out of character.
Alan Jagar told the court that from the facts he had seen, there was evidence that Hoffman was psychotic at the time of the shootings.
“That doesn’t stop him from being an angry man,” Dr. Jagar said.
“And we know that when one is psychotic, one tends to have an exacerbation of the underlying personality traits.”
Benjamin Hoffmann changed his conviction to the end of his murder trial. (ABC News: Che Chorley)
Lester Walton told the court that while it was possible that Hoffmann’s anger was related to drug intoxication, it would generally not lead to the extreme paranoia and level of violence Hoffmann shows.
“My point of view [is] he was probably in a drug-induced psychosis at the time, “Dr. Walton said.
Hoffmann, who is being held in Darwin Prison, declined to appear via a video link during Friday’s proceedings, after saying he wanted to attend court in person.
Judge John Burns denied his request, saying the video link was the only feasible option available that day.
The matter has been postponed until July 25, when two more doctors are expected to testify before the final allegations of the verdict are heard.
Judge Burns said arrangements would be made for Hoffman to attend court on that occasion.