Schizophrenic party crasher admits killing Jason Langhans with screwdriver in Victoria

Paranoid Schizophrenic Party Crasher Admits To Killing Teen Boy By Smashing Screwdriver 3 Inches In His Brain After Trying To Break Up A Fight

  • Jason Langans, 17, stabbed in the head at a house party
  • He died 3 weeks later, 18 year old arrested

The family of a teen killed with a screwdriver by a birthday party gatecrasher say they want his attacker to “rot in hell.”

The now 18-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, faced Victoria’s Supreme Court on Monday after pleading guilty to the manslaughter of 17-year-old Jason Langhans.

Prosecutor Jane Warren told the court that Mr Langhans, an apprentice plumber and avid fisherman, was acting as a peacemaker at the gate-crashed 16th birthday party in Tooradin when he was hit on the head in March 2021.

He died in hospital three weeks later.

Jason Langhans was described as a “kind and caring” young man

Carolyn Langhans, mother of Jason Lanhans, is pictured leaving the Supreme Court

Carolyn Langhans, mother of Jason Lanhans, is pictured leaving the Supreme Court

His attacker was 17 at the time.

Family and friends describe Mr. Langhans as a ‘kind and caring’ young man who was suddenly robbed of his life.

“Who brings a screwdriver to a girl’s 16th birthday party?” his grandparents Cheryl and Peter said in their victim impact statement.

“We wish (his attacker) nothing but pain and suffering for the rest of his life. May he rot in hell.’

His father Paul Langhans wept as he told the court how he begged the doctors to “save my boy.”

“I watched him take his first breath when he came into the world and watch him take his last breath,” Mr Langhans said.

“My heart is shattered.”

The court heard that the teen, named only JN, had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and paranoid schizophrenia. He had drunk half a bottle of vodka and smoked cannabis before joining the party uninvited, armed with a screwdriver.

He later hammered that screwdriver almost three inches into his victim’s brain.

Psychiatrist Rajan Darjee told the court that the teen’s drunkenness, coupled with his PTSD and paranoid schizophrenia was not a good mix.

Family and friends described Mr Langhans (left) as a 'kind and caring' young man who was suddenly robbed of his life

Family and friends described Mr Langhans (left) as a ‘kind and caring’ young man who was suddenly robbed of his life

Jason Langhans' family had to make the heartbreaking decision to turn off his life support

Jason Langhans’ family had to make the heartbreaking decision to turn off his life support

The court also learned about the teen’s early life in Afghanistan, his arrival at the Christmas Island detention center and his poor school experience once he moved to the mainland.

The teenager was remanded in custody to be sentenced on August 24 by Judge Elizabeth Hollingworth.

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