Darwin shooter Benjamin Hoffmann’s sentencing hearing set

Doctors will soon provide evidence to decide how long mass-murderer Benjamin Hoffmann will remain in prison.

DOCTORS and medical experts will provide evidence to decide how long mass-murderer Benjamin Hoffmann remains in prison.

Hoffmann’s sentencing hearing has been confirmed, just days before the three year anniversary of the Darwin mass shooting. In June 2019, Hoffmann went on a shooting rampage which claimed the lives of Hassan Baydoun, Michael Sisois and Rob Courtney, as well as the manslaughter of Nigel Hellings.

In the latest appearance in the long running court drama, Justice John Burns set out the planned timeline for the two-day hearing.

Hoffmann did not appear in the Supreme Court, but was represented by impartial advisers, junior counsel Dr Patricia Petersen and Alex Tees. In April Mr Tees was spectacularly fired by Hoffmann — the second time he dismissed his legal team.

Six months after his dramatic 11th hour guilty plea following a 20-day trial, prosecutors said they were finally ready to sentence Hoffmann.

“From our perspective there’s nothing that might delay proceedings,” crown prosecutor Tami Grealy said.

Ms Grealy said five experts would give evidence over the two-day sentencing hearing starting on Friday. Psychiatrists Siva Bala, Lester Walton and Alan Jager will give evidence on Friday, with toxicologist Jason White and psychiatrist David Greenberg to testify at a later date.

Dr Peterson asked for the two defence witnesses Dr White and Prof Greenberg to be heard on the same day. “There is a significant relevant nexus between Dr White’s evidence, as a forensic toxicologist, and the issues in dispute,” she said.

But the court heard Dr White could not be questioned until he returned from Canada. The court heard Hoffmann had been cleared by medical teams to appear via a video link. The sentencing hearing will begin on May 27.

Originally published as Darwin shooter Benjamin Hoffmann’s sentencing hearing set