Paul James Roomes told police Mt Gambier murder victim Peter Smith’s plea for life was ‘irrelevant’

A court has heard how a Mount Gambier murder victim begged for his life during a savage beating in his unit. What the murderer did next is unthinkable.

A homeless murderer told police that his victim begging for his life during a vicious assault was “irrelevant”, as the man’s brother shared his family’s grief over the death.

On Monday, the Supreme Court heard sentencing submissions in the case against murderer Paul James Roomes, 66, who killed Peter Smith at Mt Gambier in September 2023.

Prosecutors told the court that Roomes had told police his victim’s pleas weren’t relevant.

“He states, ‘the fact that I kept hitting him while he begged to stay alive is irrelevant’,” prosecutors told Justice Sandi McDonald.

Peter Smith, 65, who was murdered in his Mt Gambier home in September 2023. Picture: Facebook.

Russell Smith, brother of murdered man Peter Smith, told media the process had been a “nightmare” since his brother’s death. Picture: Leah Smith

“He later goes on to say, ‘the deceased was barely breathing but he continued to kick and hit him in the head before picking up the chair leg’.”

The court heard Mr Smith was murdered in his Mount Gambier unit after he intervened in an alcohol-fuelled fight, where his coffee table was broken and he was repeatedly stuck by Roomes.

Mr Smith’s brother, Russell Smith, provided a statement to the court about his, and his family’s, grief after the murder.

“When I found out my brother was killed, I was shaken, it took a couple of days to process what I had been told … I was very angry,” the statement, read to the court by a prosecutor, said.

“I feel overwhelmed and more withdrawn as time goes on. I don’t want to talk to people in case they ask questions about my brother, I don’t want to talk about what has happened.

“Myself and my siblings … we ask, ‘why did it go so far, it did not need to go so far, why?’”

Roomes sat in the dock with his eyes closed during the hearing.

Mr Smith was murdered in his Mt Gambier home on September 27, 2023. Picture: Dean Martin

Police, Detectives and Forensic officers attended the scene and Roomes was arrested the same day. Picture: Dean Martin

Outside court, Russell Smith said the entire court process had been a nightmare, and the family just wanted justice to be “swift”.

“It’s been a rollercoaster ride for me, right up through now, and it’s been a nightmare for me and my family and people around (us),” he said.

Roomes pleaded guilty to murdering Mr Smith in Mount Gambier on September 26, 2023.

Neighbours said Mr Smith had taken Roomes – who was homeless – into his unit prior to the murder.

Police arrived at a block of units in Bond St around 3pm after reports of a disturbance, and found Mr Smith, 65, with serious injuries. He was treated at the scene and taken to hospital, where he died shortly after.

Roomes has also pleaded guilty to assault.

Oliver Greeves, for Roomes, said his client should be sentenced to a non-parole period less than the 20-year mandatory minimum.

Mr Greeves told the court his client had admitted to the murder immediately, would likely not see “the outside world again” and it occurred in “unpremeditated” circumstances during a heated argument.

Roomes was remanded in custody to face further submissions in February.