Ocean Beach: Tristan Sherrin-Hill killed workmate and friend Daniel Bruns in ‘frenzied knife attack’

A man with an undiagnosed, untreated schizoaffective disorder took less than two minutes to viciously stab his mate to death in a “paranoia filled rage”, a court has heard.

Daniel Bruns was found stabbed to death by Tristan Sherring-Hill in a blue SUV in the Ocean Beach SLSC car park on October 16, 2023. Picture: Supplied

A man who stabbed his colleague and close mate to death in a “frenzied knife attack” after being driven to a surf club car park was not criminally responsible because of an undiagnosed, untreated schizoaffective disorder, a court has heard.

Tristan Sherrin-Hill, 31, of Umina Beach, faced a special hearing at Newcastle Supreme Court on Friday after pleading not guilty to a single count of murdering Daniel Bruns in the car park of Ocean Beach Surf Life Saving Club in the early hours of October 16, 2023.

The court heard Sherrin-Hill was exhibiting worsening mental health symptoms, exacerbated by drug use, when he called Mr Bruns and asked for a lift to the car park about 3am.

The Crown prosecutor told the court CCTV showed Mr Bruns had parked his partner’s car for less than two minutes when Sherrin-Hill got out having stabbed his colleague and close mate in a “frenzied knife attack” motivated by “paranoia filled rage”.

The prosecutor told the court expert psychiatric reports, compiled on behalf of the defence and the Crown, were both unanimous in their findings that Sherrin-Hill was at the time and continues to suffer from a mental health condition which made him unaware what he was doing was morally wrong.

Police established a crime scene where Mr Bruns’ body was found in the Ocean Beach SLSC car park on October 16, 2023. Picture: Facebook

He and the defence applied for a “special verdict” that the offence was proved but Sherrin-Hill was not criminally responsible.

“It is important to note that this is not the same as a finding of not guilty or an acquittal,” the Crown prosecutor said.

Murder victim Daniel Bruns was found stabbed to death. Picture: supplied

“It is clear that whilst he has been in custody, Mr Sherrin-Hill is still demonstrating clear signs of a lasting mental illness. An example is in (a doctor’s report) noting during their interview Mr Sherrin-Hill continued to raise that a chip had been put into his brain which meant others, including his treating doctor, could read his mind.”

The victim’s partner Katrina Butler read a powerful victim impact statement to the court in which she recalled getting woken at 3am only to find her boyfriend’s body slumped in the driver’s seat of her car.

“I got out to find you in the driver’s seat with your leg up and staring out of the window,” she said.

“The light of the car park was shining so bright in the car window. I opened the door to find you with blood and cuts all over you.”

Murder victim Daniel Bruns (left) with his partner Katrina Butler (right). Mr Bruns was found stabbed to death by his mate Tristan Sherrin-Hill in a blue SUV in the Ocean Beach SLSC car park in the early hours of October 16, 2023. Picture: supplied

Ms Butler said her partner was left by his friend Sherrin-Hill in what she could only describe as being “like a wild pig being slaughtered”.

She said while she understood “the struggles that come along with a horrible (mental) illness” it was no excuse for what Sherrin-Hill had done to Mr Bruns and his family.

“There is help out there for everyone, which I know because I have to constantly ask, seek it, and I believe he, like I had ... every opportunity to do so but didn’t and we have gotten to this horrendous outcome.”

Justice Ian Harrison said when there were unanimous medical findings, and no evidence to the contrary, he would have to find in favour of the special verdict.

However he said this was “not some dodgy technical defence”.

“It’s nothing of the kind,” he said.

Justice Harrison will deliver his judgement at a date to be fixed.

Originally published as Ocean Beach: Tristan Sherrin-Hill killed workmate and friend Daniel Bruns in ‘frenzied knife attack’