A man who stabbed a paramedic to death in an unprovoked attack has been found not criminally responsible for the fatal act on mental health grounds.
Jordan James Fineanganofo admitted stabbing 29-year-old paramedic Steven Tougher 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 grounds of mental health concerns and a NSW Supreme Court judge ruled on Friday that the elements of the defense had been established.
“I accept the psychiatric evidence on the balance of probabilities that the defendant suffered from a mental health disorder,” Judge David Davies said.
‘This intellectual disability meant that the suspect did not know that his actions were wrong.’
Prosecutors agreed that a special sentence was appropriate for Fineanganofo, who said he had heard voices leading up to the attack.
Forensic psychiatrist Kerri Eagle, who was retained by the prosecution, found that Fineanganofo was suffering from a psychotic illness at the time, consistent with a relapse of schizophrenia.
Dr. Eagle said he was aware enough to know what he was doing, but couldn’t properly reason that it was wrong because of his mental state.
Jordan Fineanganofo has been found not responsible for the death of paramedic Steven Tougher
Crown prosecutor Ken McKay SC previously told the court the killer had had no interaction with Mr Tougher before the chilling attack, which lasted almost four minutes.
Mr Tougher tried to push Fineanganofo away, but was unsuccessful. He said, ‘What are you doing? Stop stabbing me, buddy.”
Despite several people’s attempts to help, the attacker continued to stab Mr Tougher, walking away several times before returning to inflict more wounds on the NSW ambulance worker as he lay on the ground.
After his arrest, Fineanganofo reported hearing auditory hallucinations in the form of various 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 was unable to deal with them that day, prompting him to attack a random member of the community.
Fineanganofo also pleaded not guilty on mental health grounds to a series of related charges over alleged incidents in nearby suburbs in the days before Mr Tougher was killed.
Steven Tougher was murdered on April 14, 2023
As he was led out of the court, several people from a large group of Mr Tougher’s family and supporters shouted. “You chose not to take your medication,” someone said.
These incidents included intimidating a woman pushing a stroller carrying a five-month-old child, threatening several men at a gas station and brandishing a knife at a man during a roadside incident, puncturing his jacket but not his skin.
Fineanganofo was remanded in custody following the verdict and a hearing was scheduled for Thursday to make further orders.
As he was led out of the court, several people from a large group of Mr Tougher’s family and supporters shouted.
“You chose not to take your medication,” someone said.
“You’re the demon.”