Geoffrey Tampin was legally insane when he stabbed his flatmate Dean Clark to death on June 26 last year, a High Court judge has found.
In a judgement released from the Auckland High Court yesterday, Justice David Collins accepted the evidence of Dr Rajendra Pavagada and Professor Graham Melsop.
"Having carefully evaluated the psychiatric evidence I have no doubt Mr Tampin was insane at the time he stabbed Mr Clark to death," Justice Collins said in his judgement.
Accordingly, Mr Tampin was found not guilty by reason of insanity at the time of the offence.
Justice Collins also accepted Detective Sergeant McHattie's affidavit which detailed Mr Tampin stabbed Mr Clark with a butcher's knife.
"On the evening of 26 June 2012 Mr Tampin was walking around Auckland city. At the time he heard voices in his head which told him he should kill his flatmate.
"Mr Tampin went back to Mr Clark's flat and went to bed. However, the voices continued in his head, telling him that he should kill his flatmate.
"Mr Tampin got out of bed and located a butcher's knife. He then went into the kitchen area where Mr Clark was bending over the kitchen sink.
"Mr Tampin stabbed Mr Clark in the torso. A violent struggle then developed during which a glass panel in the front door of the property was smashed.
"During the struggle Mr Tampin stabbed Mr Clark over 15 times in his chest, left arm, left hand and left leg.
"Mr Clark died from the wounds he received."
Justice Collins then determined the most suitable method of dealing with Mr Tampin was to order his detention in a hospital as a special patient under the Mental Health Act.
"The fact Mr Tampin is 38-years-old and it is too much to expect his elderly mother to care for him.
"In reaching this conclusion I stress that I am not critical of Mrs Tampin or her family. I am sure they have done the best they could under difficult circumstances."
- Brendan Manning of APNZ
