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Man will not stand trial over British backpacker killings in Australia Man will not stand trial over British backpacker killings in Australia
(35 minutes later)
A French man who fatally stabbed two British backpackers at a north Queensland hostel will not go on trial for the killings, a court has ruled. A man who fatally stabbed two British backpackers at a north Queensland hostel will not go on trial for the killings, a court has ruled.
Justice Jean Dalton discontinued criminal proceedings against Smail Ayad after finding he was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia at the time of the attack, and was under a delusion that people wanted to kill him. Justice Jean Dalton discontinued criminal proceedings against Smail Ayad, from France, after finding he was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia at the time of the attack, and was under a delusion that people wanted to kill him.
At a hearing at a Brisbane mental health court on Thursday, the court was told Ayad dragged the British backpacker Mia Ayliffe-Chung from her bed at the Home Hill hostel and stabbed her multiple times in August 2016.At a hearing at a Brisbane mental health court on Thursday, the court was told Ayad dragged the British backpacker Mia Ayliffe-Chung from her bed at the Home Hill hostel and stabbed her multiple times in August 2016.
The hostel manager tried to stop Ayad after the fatal attack, but was himself stabbed in the leg.The hostel manager tried to stop Ayad after the fatal attack, but was himself stabbed in the leg.
Ayad jumped headfirst from the first-floor balcony, sustaining neck and back fractures in the fall. He then got up and stabbed the hostel owner’s dog.Ayad jumped headfirst from the first-floor balcony, sustaining neck and back fractures in the fall. He then got up and stabbed the hostel owner’s dog.
“This was an extraordinary action and, I think, in the context of all this offending, points to how frightened he was and how ill he was,” Dalton said.“This was an extraordinary action and, I think, in the context of all this offending, points to how frightened he was and how ill he was,” Dalton said.
Ayad returned to the room where he had killed Ayliffe-Chung and repeatedly stabbed fellow British backpacker Tom Jackson as he tried to help the 20-year-old woman.Ayad returned to the room where he had killed Ayliffe-Chung and repeatedly stabbed fellow British backpacker Tom Jackson as he tried to help the 20-year-old woman.
Ayad, who had smoked up to four joints of cannabis a day for years before the attack, was under the delusion that 50 farmers and hostel staff wanted to kill him and would burn his body in a pizza oven.Ayad, who had smoked up to four joints of cannabis a day for years before the attack, was under the delusion that 50 farmers and hostel staff wanted to kill him and would burn his body in a pizza oven.
“He thought that a cleaner at the hostel had told him he would be killed when he went to check out and he thought the owner of the hostel was making excuses as to why he couldn’t leave,” Dalton said. “He interpreted her as telling him that he had to die.”“He thought that a cleaner at the hostel had told him he would be killed when he went to check out and he thought the owner of the hostel was making excuses as to why he couldn’t leave,” Dalton said. “He interpreted her as telling him that he had to die.”
Jackson’s father Les told the court he thought of his son at the beginning and end of each day.Jackson’s father Les told the court he thought of his son at the beginning and end of each day.
“For me, sleepless and disturbed nights with visions of my defenceless son being attacked by a knife-wielding professional martial arts fighter or lying in a coma in a hospital bed are not uncommon,” he said.“For me, sleepless and disturbed nights with visions of my defenceless son being attacked by a knife-wielding professional martial arts fighter or lying in a coma in a hospital bed are not uncommon,” he said.
Four psychiatrists have assessed Ayad, who was initially charged with a raft of offences including two counts of murder. Four psychiatrists have assessed Ayad, who was initially charged with several offences including two counts of murder.
Criminal proceedings against him were dropped after the court hearing but he will be detained in a mental health facility. The court heard he will likely be repatriated to France.Criminal proceedings against him were dropped after the court hearing but he will be detained in a mental health facility. The court heard he will likely be repatriated to France.
QueenslandQueensland
Crime - AustraliaCrime - Australia
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