Jordan Miller: Police probe LSD involvement in alleged murder of Emerald Wardle at Metford
Police are investigating whether Jordan Miller, a university student described as a quiet man with no criminal history, had used hallucinogenic drugs in the lead up to the alleged murder of his teenage girlfriend Emerald Wardle in Metford, near Maitland.
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Authorities are investigating whether a reported change in accused killer Jordan Brodie Miller’s mental state in the days leading up to his teenage girlfriend’s alleged murder was the result of a “bad trip” from hallucinogenic drugs.
Police will allege that Miller, a university student described as a quiet man with no criminal history, told arresting officers outside his Metford home on Saturday morning about hearing voices.
Miller, 20, has been charged with murdering his 18-year-old girlfriend Emerald Wardle in their bedroom.
He made several extraordinary outbursts during a short Newcastle Bail Court hearing on Sunday, including exclaiming that “I am a murderer”.
He also told the court he had wrapped his hands around Ms Wardle’s throat.
His demeanour prompted his lawyer to raise his mental state and the court registrar to order a psychological assessment be performed on Miller.
Detectives are investigating whether the mind-altering properties of the hallucinogenic drug LSD played any part in the lead-up to Ms Wardle’s death.
Police have been told that Miller had taken an LSD “trip” more than a week before Ms Wardle’s body was discovered.
A preliminary drug test on Miller following Ms Wardle’s death was clear, however detectives are planning to seek expert advice on whether there could have been any residual effect on his cognitive functions if he had taken a “trip”.
Drug users call frightening experiences and longer-term mental health problems after LSD “bad trips”.
Miller called triple-0 in the early hours of Saturday morning and met officers on the front lawn of his home.
It is understood he told police that he had been hearing voices in the days leading up to Ms Wardle’s death.
Neighbours also reported hearing a man yelling about demons in the lead-up to police arriving.
A search of the home found Ms Wardle’s body in the bedroom.
Police believe she had been dead for several hours before she was found by police.
Miller remains behind bars on remand and is due to appear in Maitland Local Court on Wednesday.