Killer Ben Coman ‘psychotic’ when he murdered Michelle Darragh: psychiatrist
Family members of a slain mother have lashed out at the “monster” who killed her, calling him “pathetic”.
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Family members of a slain mother have called out her killer in court, saying they wished they’d never welcomed him into their family as a teenager.
Benjamin Coman, 31, murdered his recently separated partner Michelle Darragh as she returned to the home they once shared to collect belongings.
Ms Darragh’s father, Ashley, found her lifeless body lying next to a critically injured Coman on October 9, 2021, after becoming concerned because he hadn’t heard from her in hours.
Coman is facing the Supreme Court this week for a pre-sentence hearing after pleading guilty to the pregnant mother-of-two’s murder.
Coman is facing the Supreme Court this week for a pre-sentence hearing after pleading guilty to the pregnant mother-of-two’s murder.
The 32-year-old had moved back in with her parents and told them about Coman’s escalating drug use, the court was told.
The court was told Coman had lost his grip on reality and had sparse memory – he described it like “photo blocks” – of what happened.
In victim impact statements to the court, Ms Darragh’s family members expressed their anger about not knowing what happened.
“I hate the fact I will have to live out my days with so many questions,” sister Samantha Darragh said.
“Two lives were stolen that day. I promise that ‘chelle’s boys forget who he is.
“I will make it my life’s mission that they will hate him.”
The court heard from forensic psychiatrist Andrew Carroll, who assessed Coman after the murder.
Dr Carroll said Coman was suffering from psychotic depression in the months leading up to the killing, with delusions he was being spied upon and manipulated by Ms Darragh.
“He might have been able to present a veneer of normality,” he said.
“He had lost his connection to reality.”
The court was told Coman had been admitted to a mental health ward a month before Ms Darragh was murdered after attempting to take his own life.
Dr Carroll said, in his opinion, it was “unfortunate” treating staff had diagnosed him with an adjustment disorder rather than recognising his more serious mental health symptoms.
He told the court Coman had reported delusions that his partner had been unfaithful, and she was conspiring with a work client to defraud him.
Members of Ms Darragh’s family took to the stand over Monday and Tuesday, providing emotional testimony about the impact of Ms Darragh’s murder.
She was described as a loving mother to her two sons, a beautiful and selfless family member, and a “sophisticated bogan”.
For much of the hearing, Coman sat in the dock with his eyes closed and was called out by Ms Darragh’s family for what they saw as an act of “cowardice”.
“Ben yesterday I watched you with your eyes closed the whole day,” brother James Darragh said.
“Stop being pathetic and own up to what you did.”
Mr Darragh told the court that Coman was welcomed into the family as a young teenager and they had loved and looked after him.
“I loved Ben like a brother until the day he took my sister away,” he said.
“I feel numb, I feel hurt, I feel so much anger. How dare we be put in this position for someone‘s inexcusable act.”
The hearing before Justice Andrew Tinney continues.
Originally published as Killer Ben Coman ‘psychotic’ when he murdered Michelle Darragh: psychiatrist
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