Accused Darwin gunman Ben Hoffmann tells court he’s sorry in first appearance
Accused Darwin gunman Ben Hoffmann has appeared in court for the first time, where he spoke to a judge after it emerged one of his alleged victims was due to face court on attempted rape.
The man accused of the Northern Territory’s worst mass shooting has told a Darwin court he is “very sorry about what happened”.
Heavily tattooed Ben Hoffmann appeared via video link from Darwin prison in a red t-shirt and white football shorts. He looked distressed and gaunt and appeared to have numerous cuts and bruises on his face.
When the discussion between NT Deputy Chief Judge Elizabeth Morris and Hoffmann’s lawyer Peter Maley turned to whether he should remain in protective custody because he was a high-risk prisoner, he interrupted them. “I do need help. I have asked for help,” Hoffmann said.
“I am very sorry about what happened. I want to speak to Peter Maley as soon as possible.” Mr Maley told Hoffmann he could not speak to him again on Friday, but would speak to him shortly and that he should not say too much because there were many people in the court listening.
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Hoffmann was remanded in custody to appear in court again for a preliminary examination mention in September.
NT Police charged Hoffmann with four counts of murder, two of recklessly endangering serious harm and one of criminal damage.
More charges are expected to be laid.
It comes after the parolee allegedly shot dead four men with a pump-action 12-gauge shotgun on Tuesday, was high on ice when he carried out the killings and had a friend buy him ammunition because he didn’t have a firearms licence.
He also reportedly had compiled a hit list and police are investigating whether a feud over drug debts and a former girlfriend sparked the allegedly murderous rampage.
The NT government has asked for a report from the Parole Board on Hoffmann and to review all people on parole in the wake of the tragedy.
DARWIN VICTIMS
After taxi driver Hassan Baydoun, 33, Nigel Hellings, 75, and Michael Sisois, 57, were shot dead the 45-year-old allegedly arrived at the home of casino worker Rob Courtney, 52.
Hoffmann, who was released on parole in January, was captured on CCTV before entering Mr Courtney’s Woolner home.
Mr Courtney tried to defend himself and stabbed the gunman before he was allegedly blasted in front of his housemate.
It is alleged Hoffmann was then recorded on CCTV emerging from the property shirtless, covered in blood.
He only knew two of the four men he allegedly killed, Mr Courtney and Mr Sisois — who agreed to meet the man he used to work with in a pub car park.
It has also emerged that Courtney, a security guard who was born in New Zealand, was yesterday due to appear in court on a charge of attempted rape, the NT News reports.
In an earlier court appearance, Courtney had indicated he would plead not guilty.
Outside court yesterday, Courtney’s lawyer Robert Welfare maintained his former client would ultimately have been cleared of any wrongdoing had he lived to defend the charge.
“He was always going to beat this charge but now, forever more, it hangs over his head,” Mr Welfare said.
HOFFMANN CHARGED
Last night Hoffmann was charged with four counts of murder over the 28-minute rampage in which a woman, 23, was also injured when she was shot in the legs at the Palm Motel where Mr Baydoun was killed.
Hoffman underwent surgery in a Darwin hospital for knife wounds and was later taken to Holtze prison where he will remain in isolation.
Hoffman will appear in Darwin Local Court via video link this morning charged with murder, recklessly endangering serious harm and criminal damage.
It’s believed Hoffmann had no relationship to taxi driver Mr Baydoun.
Mr Baydoun, originally from Lebanon, had recently graduated with a Masters degree from Charles Darwin University after 10 years of study and was looking forward to a visit from his mum, the NT News reports. It would have been the first time he had seen her in three years.
But Mr Baydoun’s life was cut short when it’s alleged Hoffmann, who Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw said yesterday was “likely” high on ice, shot him in a room of the Palms Motel in the Darwin CBD.
Police have not ruled out an accomplice being involved because the ammunition used was purchased by a “well known associate” and given to the gunman, police commissioner Reece Kershaw said.
“That person has been spoken to and obviously we are looking at all avenues in relation to that individual,” he said.
Police believe Hoffmann was searching for a man named “Alex” who was interstate at the time of the killings.
Mr Kershaw yesterday confirmed police were looking into whether Hoffmann and “Alex” were involved in a love triangle with an unidentified woman.
Mr Hellings is also believed to have had no interactions with Hoffmann before his death.
Neighbours in the leafy inner city suburb he lived in described Mr Hellings as a kind-hearted man who kept largely to himself and was often seen gardening or collecting mail in his underwear.
The other alleged victim, 57-year-old Michael Sisois, was a former colleague of Hoffmann’s, the NT News reports.
His brother, Vincent Sisois, angrily asked why Hoffmann had been released from prison on parole.
“Why was he let out. Why?” Mr Sisois said.
A 23-year-old woman at the Palms, who police do not believe knew Hoffmann, was shot in the legs and remains in hospital.
COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER TO HEAL
Mourners last night gathered at a vigil at the Darwin Uniting Church for the victims, only metres from where Hoffmann was tackled to the ground and tasered by police on Tuesday night.
Nearly 200 people crowded into the Smith St Uniting Church on Thursday night to begin to heal.
Those at the vigil spoke of grief, shock, despair and suffering and reminded Territorians of their shared humanity.
“Territorians stand together. Cyclones. Bombs. Floods. Fires. History shows every time we get knocked back down, we get back up again,” Chief Minister Michael Gunner said.
“Thank you all for coming tonight to pay your respects. You are Darwin. Peace be with you,” he said. “We are feeling pain. We will feel joy again, and we will do it together.”
Three clergy members and Abdallah Salman held candles for the four gunned down members of the Darwin community: Hassan Baydoun, Rob Courtney, Michael Sisois and Nigel Hellings.
GOVERNMENT REVIEW
The NT government has asked for a report from the Parole Board on Hoffmann and to review all people on parole, however Attorney-General Natasha Fyles defended the system yesterday.
“Internationally, evidence shows that an individual released into the community with support was a greater prospect for reintegration,” Ms Fyles said.
Hoffmann was picked up for speeding at 94km/h in an 80km/h zone in the hours before the killings, while wearing an electronic monitoring device, and his suspicious behaviour in Humpty Doo that morning prompted calls to police.
He told officers he was test-driving his silver Proton.
“He was not displaying any adverse behaviour,” Mr Kershaw told reporters.
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