Mentally ill drug kingpin in court

TAKEN almost five years ago, this picture summed up the criminal world of surfer Shayne Hatfield - piles of cash, kilos of drugs and the whole world at his fingertips.

TAKEN almost five years ago, this picture summed up the criminal world of surfer Shayne Hatfield - piles of cash, kilos of drugs and the world at his fingertips.

But the cocaine kingpin was this week described as "profoundly mentally ill" as a court heard of his slide into paranoid schizophrenia.

While the former professional surfer pleaded guilty to his role in the international cocaine cartel he believes he was "directed by George Bush" and received messages through his television.

A police operation codenamed Mocha swooped on the syndicate in May 2005, alleging the syndicate - headed by Hatfield alongside former first grade footballer Les Mara, and now-late Sydney criminal Michael Hurley - had already brought up to 200kg of cocaine here through corrupt baggage handlers at Sydney airport.

Mara has since been jailed for a minimum of 13 years while Hurley died from cancer in January 2007.

Hatfield attempted suicide and was committed for trial but also spent two years unfit to stand trial. He finally faced a sentencing hearing last Thursday.

Judge Helen Morgan heard that the Crown now accepted that Hatfield "was suffering from a mental illness" at the time of the importations and the aborted 30kg attempt shortly before his arrest.

However, Crown prosecutor David Staehli SC argued there was no evidence the condition affected his ability to see right from wrong.

"How is somebody so affected capable of planning and organising (such a huge drug operation) to the level that's described in Crown facts?" he asked. Judge Morgan must decide if the condition was in any way "self serving", he said.

Hatfield's barrister Peter Givorshner said Hatfield can be in one moment "apparently coherent" and then "floridly irrational".

He considered calling Hatfield to give evidence at the sentencing hearing but said such a move was "just plain cruel", and any resulting cross-examination may even bring on "a psychotic episode".

Hatfield also told psychiatrists he stayed with the drug ring out of fear slain Bandido bikie Rodney Monk, called Hooksie, would "do him or his girlfriend" Virginia Broun if he tried to quit.

The court heard Ms Broun and her dad, Malcolm Broun QC, were still supportive and were in court.

Hatfield, who remains in custody, has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to import a commercial quantity of cocaine and one count of supplying a commercial quantity of cocaine.

He will be sentenced in August.

Source: The Daily Telegraph