Supreme Court told Kevin James Pettiford’s killings, woundings ‘calm, premeditated and planned’ as defences argues mental illness

The estranged mum of a killer who took the lives of two rough sleepers, among other horrific acts, has shared an insight into her son before he devolved into a life of sinister crime. Warning: Graphic

Kevin James Pettiford killed two homeless men and attacked a prison inmate and guard. He has pleaded not guilty to murder and attempted murder, with his defence claiming he was mentally impaired.

The estranged mum of a killer who took the lives of two rough sleepers, among other horrific acts, says her son used to be a good kid with an active life until a break-up.

Kerry Pettiford said in a police statement presented during the ongoing trial of Kevin James Pettiford, 38, in the Supreme Court that her son began spiralling in his late teen years.

“I first noticed a change in him at 19 when he broke up with his first girlfriend …,” she wrote.

Ms Pettiford said she was concerned about medical experts prescribing antidepressants.

“I believe it slowly made him worse and that’s the day I believe I lost my son,” she said on Wednesday.

Victorian man Pettiford is pleading not guilty in Sydney to the 2019 murder of Andrew ‘Andy’ Murray, 56, at Tweed Heads and the attempted throat slashing murder of Cessnock prisoner Nathan Mellows five weeks later.

David Collin, 53, was killed at Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland.

It’s also not disputed Pettiford killed David Collin, 53, on the Sunshine Coast in 2019 and cut a prison officer’s arm in 2020.

Defence barrister Jason Watt argues Pettiford was mentally impaired, living with bipolar affective disorder and is not criminally culpable.

But Crown prosecutor Brendan Campbell argues Pettiford’s actions were “calm, premeditated and planned”, and psychiatrist Professor David Greenberg believed Pettiford knew what he was doing.

Mr Watt told the jury in the case before Justice Hament Dhanj: “It’s (psychiatrists) Professor Greenberg vs. Dr (Jeremy) O’Dea”.

Pettiford attacked a prison guard and an inmate. File image. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

He said Dr O’Dea has a “far more thorough explanation of the events and this evidence”.

Dr O’Dea diagnosed Pettiford with bipolar and prescribed antipsychotic medication.

Mr Watt said “even in the restricted environment of the high-risk management unit at Goulburn Correctional Centre he tried to slice the arm of a corrective services officer”.

He said Pettiford had a “completely different presentation” after three-and-a-half years in custody and being treated.

Jurors were told Pettiford has not had similarly violent urges and they have requested more information on Pettiford’s medication history.

Mr Watt said it was clear Pettiford showed “signs of mania” in police interviews.

Earlier, jurors heard Pettiford told officers he was the “Hand of Death”, his killings were “art” and he hoped to be Australia’s most prolific serial killer.

Mr Campbell argues Pettiford was able to reason and knew what he was doing was wrong.

He told the court Pettiford watched Mr Collin fall asleep before he slammed a rock into the softest part of his head.

Police investigating the Jack Evans Boat Harbour, Tweed Heads killing.

“This shows he can think, reason, and plan. They were planned and carried out,” Mr Campbell said.

“They were planned to satisfy his long standing urges to kill, and show he is capable of complex reasoning.”

Mr Campbell said Pettiford was simply narcissistic and anti-social.

“There is simply no doubt the death of Mr Murray was caused by the deliberate act of the accused,” he said.

“The accused was doing the things he wanted to do, because he wanted to do them.

“He has consistently said he killed because that is what he wanted to do for a long time.”

Pettiford would contemplate before acting and stopped striking Mr Murray when he saw others nearby, the prosecutor said.

Experts David Greenberg and Jeremy O'Dea have been providing evidence in the trial of Kevin James Pettiford, who is charged with murder and attempted murder.

David Collin on CCTV the night before he was killed.

Mr Campbell said Pettiford described himself as “evil” and a “monster” with no right to kill, and he tried to avoid detection.

He said Pettiford could stop himself from killing, did not target women and knew he would be jailed if caught.

“Despite knowing this, he still chose to kill homeless persons because of his longstanding desire to kill,” Mr Campbell said.

He said Pettiford covered Mr Murray’s body, fled the area, showered, changed clothes and slept under a bridge to avoid being caught.

It was alleged Pettiford chose an itinerant lifestyle to be in “closer proximity” to targets.

The court heard Pettiford told police he killed by code and believed the homeless “wouldn’t be missed”.

“I told you man, I’ve always wanted to kill. I couldn’t f--king hold it off any longer,” he said.

The jury is expected to start deliberations Friday.