Source : Perth Now news
The man who stabbed his ex-girlfriend 78 times has finally said he is sorry.
A handwritten letter by Tyrone Thompson was handed to Justice Richard Weinstein in Newcastle Supreme Court on Tuesday expressing his remorse over the murder of 21-year-old Mackenzie Anderson.
Justice Weinstein said he was happy to receive the letter because this was the first time he had seen any remorse from Thompson.
The judge said it appeared Thompson, who stabbed Ms Anderson 78 times with two kitchen knives over two minutes, had a longstanding diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder, a mental illness characterised by both schizophrenia and a mood disorder.
Thompson’s current diagnosis involved a mixture of post traumatic stress disorder with a severe personality disorder.
Two forensic psychiatrists will be called to give evidence on Thursday about Thompson’s mental illness.
Justice Weinstein said Thompson’s mental illness was complex and it appeared his moral culpability for the brutal murder might be diminished to some extent because of it but he wanted to hear from the psychiatrists.
Thompson, 25, had been due to stand trial for murder before pleading guilty earlier in April.
His sentence hearing was adjourned on Monday after Thompson indicated he wanted to sack his defence lawyers.
The hearing resumed on Tuesday with defence barrister David Carroll indicating Thompson had changed his mind and Mr Carroll would continue to represent him.
Thompson killed Ms Anderson 16 days after his release on parole having been jailed for serious domestic violence offences against her.
Ms Anderson’s mother, Tabitha Acret, had told the court in an emotional victim impact statement on Monday how her daughter must have suffered a “fear no human should ever know” on the night she was murdered.
“I constantly worry about how scared she must have been, what must have been racing through her mind,” Ms Acret said.
“Mackenzie was convinced Tyrone would murder her on his (parole) release. She was in fear all the time.”
Thompson broke into her apartment in the Newcastle suburb of Mayfield on March 25, 2022.
A male friend who’d gone to her aid for a second time during the night looked through a gap in her blocked door and saw her lying on the ground with Thompson standing over her repeatedly stabbing her.
Thompson was not saying a word.
Police arrived and found Ms Anderson unconscious with stab wounds to her face and body. A broken knife handle lay on top of the left side of her chest.
Thompson, whose right hand was injured, told a detective the couple had had a heated argument and she had a knife which he grabbed before jumping on her head and stabbing her many times until “she f***en stopped.”
He has been in custody since his arrest in March 2022.
Lifeline 13 11 14
beyondblue 1300 22 4636
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
