Killer Pande Veleski to be found not guilty by mental impairment over 2016 stabbing near Alice Springs

OUTBACK backpacker killer Pande Veleski will be found not guilty by mental impairment over his 2016 stabbing of Frenchman Philippe Jegouzo

Veleski was due to face trial in the Northern Territory Supreme Court in November

OUTBACK backpacker killer Pande Veleski will be found not guilty by mental impairment over his 2016 stabbing of Frenchman Philippe Jegouzo.

Veleski was due to face trial in the Northern Territory Supreme Court in November charged with Mr Jegouzo’s murder, but in a pre-trial mention on Monday Crown Prosecutor Stephen Robson said the prosecution would agree to the not guilty plea.

Mr Robson said a psychiatric commissioned by the prosecution reached similar conclusions to an earlier report commissioned by Veleski’s legal team.

Veleski, from Victoria, was reportedly in the outback during a period of intense schizophrenic delusions, having been diagnosed with the condition around six years ago.

Mr Robson also applied for Mr Veleski to enter his plea in Darwin, saying Mr Jegouzo’s family planned to travel to Australia for the hearing.

Veleski will plead not guilty by mental impairment to murder, as well as escape custody and assault police.

The charges stem from the unprovoked stabbing of Mr Jegouzo in front of his girlfriend, Aurelie Courier, as the couple were camping at the Connor Well campsite 90km north of Alice Springs.

Veleski, naked, was arrested by heavily armed police some 16 hours later and has been in custody since.

Veleski will enter his pleas at a date to be set.