Triple murderer Ben Hoffmann given three weeks to consider withdrawing guilty plea

Triple murderer Ben Hoffmann has been given another three weeks to consider changing his guilty pleas.

DARWIN triple murderer Ben Hoffmann has been given another three weeks to consider changing his guilty pleas after his new lawyer flagged concerns about his “capacity to give me instructions”.

Lawyer Patricia Petersen told the Supreme Court on Friday she was yet to receive a brief of evidence in the case or have a face-to-face meeting with Hoffmann.

Ms Petersen said while it was “premature” to make an application to change her client’s plea, there were “significant issues with respect to Mr Hoffmann’s current capacity to receive advice and give instructions”.

“Those issues, of course, are quite separate to whether Mr Hoffmann was of some abnormality of mind, or defect of mind at the time of the offending,” she said.

“Based on conversations that I’ve had with Mr Hoffmann, it’s looking increasingly likely that the avenue that Mr Hoffmann was pursuing last time Mr Hoffmann was before your honour, we probably won’t be going down that path.

“Nonetheless, there may be more significant or substantive reasons as to why My Hoffmann may wish to change his plea.”

Crown prosecutor, Lloyd Babb SC, said while he was “anxious” to proceed with sentencing, “if three weeks is truly needed, I don’t object to that”.

“But I’m keen that this not go on for too much longer,” he said.

In granting the adjournment, Justice John Burns said although he shared Mr Babb’s concerns, he would give Hoffmann another three weeks to talk to his new lawyer.

“But I make it very clear that this is the last adjournment I will give for the purpose of the offender giving instructions to his lawyers,” he said.

I expect on the next occasion that either and application will be made on behalf of the offender or I will set a date for the sentence hearing.”

Hoffmann sacked his publicly funded legal team, led by Darwin silk Jon Tippett QC, in November.

The case returns to court on March 4.