A man who stabbed a paramedic to death in an unprovoked attack has not been found criminally responsible for the fatal act on mental health grounds.
Jordan James Fineanganofo admitted stabbing paramedic Steven Tougher, 29, 55 times outside a McDonald’s in Campbelltown, south-west Sydney, in the early hours of April 14, 2023.
The 23-year-old pleaded not guilty to murder on the grounds of impaired mental health and a NSW Supreme Court judge ruled on Friday that the elements of the defense had been established.
“I accept the psychiatric evidence having regard to the likelihood that the defendant suffered from a mental health disorder,” Judge David Davies said.
“That mental deterioration had the effect that the defendant did not know that his actions were wrong.”
Prosecutors agreed that a special verdict was appropriate for Fineanganofo, who said he had been hearing voices in the lead-up to the attack.
Forensic psychiatrist Kerri Eagle, hired by the prosecution, discovered that Fineanganofo was suffering from a psychotic illness at the time, consistent with a relapse of schizophrenia.
Dr. Eagle said he was conscious enough to know what he was doing, but could not adequately reason that it was wrong due to his mental state.
Jordan Fineanganofo not responsible for the death of paramedic Steven Tougher
Crown prosecutor Ken McKay SC previously told the court the killer had no interaction with Tougher before the chilling attack, which lasted about four minutes.
Mr Tougher tried to push Fineanganofo away but couldn’t and said: “What are you doing?” Stop stabbing me, mate.’
Despite the efforts of several people to help, the attacker continued to stab Tougher and walked away several times before returning to inflict further injuries on the NSW Ambulance worker as he lay on the ground.
Following his arrest, Fineanganofo reported hearing auditory hallucinations in the form of multiple voices and his own voice telling him to kill himself and others.
He said the voices had increased in intensity over the past month and he had been unable to cope with them that day, leading him to attack a random member of the community.
Fineanganofo also pleaded not guilty by reason of mental health to a series of charges related to alleged incidents in nearby suburbs in the days before Tougher’s murder.
Steven Tougher was killed on April 14, 2023
As he was led out of the courthouse, several people in a large group of Tougher’s relatives and supporters shouted. “You decided not to take your medication,” one person said.
Those incidents included intimidating a woman who was pushing a stroller with a five-month-old child, threatening several men at a service station and attacking a man with a knife during a roadside incident, piercing his jacket but not his skin.
Fineanganofo was remanded in custody following the verdict and a hearing was set for Thursday to make further orders.
As he was led out of the courthouse, several people in a large group of Tougher’s relatives and supporters shouted.
“You decided not to take your medication,” one person said.
“You are the devil.”