David Gregory Murphy: Self-confessed Messiah’s fitness for trial assessed in court

A self-proclaimed “Messiah” who allegedly falsely claimed he could wipe people’s debts has faced off with his own psychiatrist in court.

A self-proclaimed Messiah who allegedly falsely claimed he could wipe out debts for as little as 15 per cent what was owed based on religious teachings has faced court in bizarre scenes.

David Gregory Murphy, 69, has been charged with three counts of false or misleading information affecting market participation and four counts of dishonest conduct relating to financial services.

He has not yet formally pleaded to the charges, but faced a hearing at the NSW District Court on Friday where his fitness for trial was assessed.

Mr Murphy, who goes by Dr Murphy or Professor Murphy, has previously told several media outlets he is the modern day Messiah.

His bizarre alleged conduct first came to light in October 2020, when the Federal Court ordered him to stop claiming on shop-a-dockets and social media that he can extinguish debts in exchange for an upfront fee.

Sydney man David Gregory Murphy operated the now-closed “Debt Wipeout”. Source: YouTube

At the time, he told The Daily Telegraph his debt extinguishing system was based on the Bible’s Old Testament condemning interest as a sin and confirmed he believed he was the Messiah.

On October 9, 2020, the Federal Court restrained Mr Murphy and his company “Debts Knockout from carrying on or promoting the program “Debt Wipeout” and take down the websites debtwipeout.org and debstknockout.com.

But more than two years later, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) referred the matter to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions, which is prosecuting criminal charges at Downing Centre District Court.

ASIC alleges consumers made upfront payments and their debts were not extinguished.

On Friday, the court heard from two doctors who have treated Mr Murphy for schizophrenia in recent years.

ASIC alleges Murphy’s ‘Debt Wipeout’ scheme failed to wipe debts as promised. Picture: Facebook

Psychiatrist Dr Joanne Ferguson told the court she saw Dr Murphy 10 times from 2020 to early 2022.

She told the court Mr Murphy appeared“relatively stable” until he went off medication and appeared to have “significant difficulty” understanding the charges against him, with his “significant thought disorder” impacting his capacity to make informed decisions.

Dr Ferguson told the court she “wouldn’t be able to say if he could stand trial in 12 months” if he was put back on medication.

The second psychiatrist, Dr Kerri Eagle, said she doubted he would improve in time, even if he tried different medications.

Murphy’s mental health was assessed in court. Source: YouTube

She told the court Dr Murphy “deteriorated” in 2022 and became preoccupied with “paranoid themes … conspiracy involving various parties … tangents”.

“I do acknowledge it is unlikely Mr Murphy would improve to an extent where he would have his fitness of trial restored within 12 months,” Dr Eagle told the court.

In bizarre court scenes, a self-represented Mr Murphy took the stand and alleged “someone else” wrote some of Dr Ferguson’s psychological reports, which she refuted.

He also asked Dr Ferguson how she defines mental illness and says he “has his own ideas” of how it should be done.

The hearing was part heard and will return to court February 22.