Court appearance for Trent Jennings, extradited to NSW after two-week manhunt

NSW sex killer Trent Jennings, extradited back to NSW after he was arrested interstate last week, begged a judge to accept guilty pleas as he appeared in a Sydney court.

A fugitive who killed a man during a violent sexual encounter extradited back to NSW after he was arrested in Queensland last week has appeared in a Sydney court.

Trent Jennings, 38, fronted Sydney’s Downing Centre Court on Tuesday after he was extradited back to Sydney on Monday night.

Appearing via audio-visual link on Tuesday afternoon, Jennings refused legal advice and represented himself, begging the magistrate to accept guilty pleas for charges including possessing or using a prohibited weapon without a permit and the police paraphernalia.

Ahead of his arrest in Queensland, NSW Police had appealed for information about Jennings’ whereabouts on January 19, revealing he was wanted on an outstanding order.

Jennings had not been seen since January 17, when he was spotted at a motel at The Entrance on the NSW Central Coast. The alarm was raised when he failed to return to a mental health facility.

Trent Jennings had last been seen at a motel at The Entrance in January before the manhunt. Source: NSW Police

Officers searching for Jennings say they unearthed a bag filled with police uniforms, badges and handcuffs at a Newcastle train station.

Police will allege in court the bag contained uniforms belonging to NSW Police, Australian Federal Police and NSW Ambulance as well as boots, gloves, multiple electronics and prescription medication.

Police had released images of Jennings in January. Source: NSW Police

Jennings in a police-issued photograph when he was wanted in 2011 over the tying up and robbery of a man in an inner-city Sydney unit.

Jennings was found in Queensland last Thursday.

‘I JUST WANT TO GET THIS OVER’

Jennings tapped his handcuffed fists on a table in front of him at Surry Hills Police Station as he refused legal advice during his appearance on Tuesday.

“I proceed to plead guilty to all charges and get sentenced today,” he said.

“There’s no point postponing or making this a dragged out process.

Strike Force Cobra detectives arrested and extradited Jennings from Queensland to NSW. He has been charged with alleged weapon offences. Picture: NSW Police

“I just want to get it over and done with.”

Despite Jennings’ continued requests, Magistrate Clare Farnan said she would not accept any pleas at this stage, with a mental health order issued for Jennings.

“I’m not going to accept pleas today in circumstances where I know mental health orders are outstanding,” she said while Jennings laughed and proceeded to place his head in his hands, appearing agitated.

“It’s in your interests to have a lawyer.”

A psychiatric assessment was ordered for Jennings, with matters adjourned until March 19.

2003 KILLING IN DRUG-INDUCED PSYCHOSIS

In 2003, Jennings organised to meet with a man named Giuseppe Vitale under a bridge in a park in Sydney’s south for a sexual encounter.

He took with him a length of rope, amyl nitrate (a drug he’d used to heighten sexual pleasure) and a knife with an 11cm blade.

The men had a consensual sexual encounter, but while the other man was tied up, Jennings suddenly pounced, stabbing his victim in the neck.

A court heard evidence Jennings suffers from a schizophrenic illness and killed Vitale during a drug-induced psychosis.

He was found not guilty of murder on mental health grounds.

In January 2012, he robbed a man he’d met on a social networking site.

Jennings went to the man’s home, tied him up, robbed him and stole his Mercedes.

He was found a week later, asleep in the stolen car, in Byron Bay.

Jennings will appear in Downing Centre Court on Tuesday. Picture: NSW Police

NSW Police made a public appeal for help in finding Jennings on January 19, two days after he was seen at a motel around 10pm on The Entrance Rd, The Entrance. Another public appeal was made on January 21.

After the extradition was granted, Jennings was escorted by police from Queensland and arrived at Sydney airport on Monday.

He was then taken to Mascot Police Station where he was charged with possessing or using a prohibited weapon without a permit, possessing arms/ammunition/clothing/accoutrements and six counts of not police officer/special constable wear etc.

He was refused bail to appear before Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday.

Do you have a story for The Daily Telegraph? Email [e-mail]