Jordan Fineanganofo found not criminally responsible for death of Steven Tougher

The family and friends of a paramedic who was fatally stabbed in a McDonald’s carpark have lashed out at his killer in an emotional courtroom outburst.

The family of a newlywed paramedic who was fatally stabbed in a McDonald’s carpark are “appalled” after his killer was found not criminally responsible for his horrific death.

Jordan James Fineanganofo, 23, appeared before the NSW Supreme Court on Friday after pleading not guilty to a raft of charges, including the murder of Steven Tougher in April 2023.

The father-to-be had been eating with a colleague in the carpark of a McDonald’s in Campbelltown when he was approached by Fineanganofo shortly after 5am on April 14.

The stranger said nothing before he launched an frenzied attack on the paramedic, stabbing him 55 times and leaving 20 incised wounds.

“I am going to f**king kill you,” Fineanganofo said to Mr Tougher, according to the agreed facts.

Jordan Fineanganofo has been found not responsible for the death of paramedic Steven Tougher.

Mr Tougher was rushed to hospital after the horrifying three-minute attack but he suffered a cardiac arrest and was later declared dead.

Both the defence and the Crown prosecutor agreed the court could find Fineanganofo was not responsible because of his mental health issues.

On Friday, Justice David Davies determined the killing had been proven but Fineanganofo was not criminally responsible by reason of mental illness.

“I am satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused committed the physical acts,” he said.

“(I) find the accused was suffering from a mental health impairment at the time”.

Justice Davies found Fineanganofo was not able to understand the wrongness of his actions because of the state of his mental health.

Mr Tougher was killed on April 14, 2023.

Mr Tougher’s family and friends broke down in sobs when Justice Davies handed down his decision.

“You chose not to take your medication, you’re the demon,” one person shouted at Fineanganofo as he was taken into custody.

“Rot in hell, you dog,” another yelled from the public gallery.

Outside court, Mr Tougher’s father Jeff said the family were “appalled” with the outcome.

“It is neither what we wanted nor what we expected,” he said.

“Stephen has been lost in this deeply flawed and broken process.”

The grieving father said the family “strongly oppose” the Crown’s decision to agree to a finding of not criminally responsible, and they were “deeply offended” they were not consulted before the decision was made.

“This fellow made my son beg for his life, telling him to say you’re sorry, say you’re sorry, beg for his life,” he said.

Mr Tougher’s sister Jess said the gruesome details of the paramedic’s last moments were hard to swallow.

“To hear today that he thought that Stephen was a demon was so hard to swallow because Stephen was an angel,” she said.

Jess, Jeff and Jill Tougher said there were ‘appalled’ by the decision. Picture: NewsWire / John Appleyard

A male relative of Fineanganofo said “we’re sorry” as their family exited the courtroom.

The court was told Fineanganofo experienced auditory hallucinations, increasing paranoia, and suicidal ideation before the deadly attack.

He told psychiatrists that he heard voices telling him to harm himself and others in the weeks leading up to the offences, and believed he was surrounded by malignant demons.

The 23-year-old explained he felt “he is unable to stop himself when these voices enter his mind, and his body follows”, Justice Davies noted.

A psychiatrist concluded he was “acutely psychotic” at the time of the stabbing.

He has since been diagnosed with schizophrenia with residual symptoms of psychosis.

Fineanganofo will remain in custody until he returns to court next week to hear from 11 people impacted by his actions.

Jill, Jeff, Jess and Madison Tougher, who married Steven just weeks before his death. Picture: NewsWire / John Appleyard

Mr Tougher’s father said the family would be pushing for an inquest into the “deplorable” circumstances surrounding his son’s death.

He will be meeting with Mental Health Minister Rose Jackson, and NSW Attorney-General Michael Daly to discuss potential changes to the system.

“We are damaged today, but we’re not broken. The system is broken, and as a family, we will be fighting for change,” he said.

“My son will not be forgotten, nor will his death be dismissed.”

Originally published as Jordan Fineanganofo found not criminally responsible for death of Steven Tougher