By Sarah McPhee
Warning: Graphic content
The outraged family of slain paramedic Steven Tougher will meet NSW government ministers to discuss mental health laws after his killer was found not criminally responsible for a psychotic knife rampage across Sydney’s south-west, captured on CCTV.
Jordan James Fineanganofo, 23, who has schizophrenia, believed he was surrounded by demons when he attacked multiple innocent bystanders on April 13 and 14 last year, ending with the fatal stabbing of Tougher who was on a break outside Campbelltown McDonald’s.
The family of paramedic Steven Tougher embrace another victim of the knife rampage.Credit: Steven Siewert
“To hear today that he thought Steven was a demon was so hard to swallow because Steven was an angel. He was no demon, he was an angel,” Tougher’s sister Jess said outside the Supreme Court in Sydney on Friday.
Justice David Davies delivered special verdicts of “act proven but not criminally responsible” for all six charges against Fineanganofo, including murder, intimidation and weapons offences.
The judge accepted the evidence of psychiatrists for the Crown and defence who had agreed Fineanganofo was suffering a mental health impairment at the time and did not know his actions were wrong, noting there was no evidence that cast doubt on their opinions.
Paramedic Steven Tougher was stabbed to death outside Campbelltown McDonald’s.
After the incident, Fineanganofo told mental health professionals he had visions of demons and a dog and had been hearing voices “telling him to kill someone”.
“[He] reported this morning he was unable to cope with these voices any more and therefore engaged in the fatal stabbing of a random member of the community,” the court heard.
Tougher’s father, Jeff, said the family were “appalled” by the outcome, had questions about Fineanganofo ceasing his antipsychotic medication months before the attack, and wanted a coronial inquest into “what led up to this”.
“It took this man to kill Steven in order for him to receive the care he supposedly needs,” Jeff Tougher said outside court.
He said they were “fighting for change” and had been told they would meet state Mental Health Minister Rose Jackson and NSW Attorney-General Michael Daley, although a date has not been locked in.
Killer’s knife rampage against innocent bystanders
Fineanganofo left his home in his blue Honda Jazz on the afternoon of April 13, 2023, and travelled to a local Bunnings to buy rope. He had a knife in his front right pants pocket, according to the facts.
As Fineanganofo went to leave the Campbelltown store in a lift, a mother pushing her five-month-old son in a pram tried to enter, unaware the almost two-metre man towering inside was armed. CCTV footage shows he blocked her from entering and pushed the front of the pram sideways.
“Get the f--- out,” Fineanganofo repeatedly said. “Get the f--- out, I’m taking this lift.”
His facial expression “went from blank to angry”, and the mother backed off. After closing the lift, he “laughed and stuck his middle finger up” at the woman, who could see him through the glass doors.
The woman reported the incident to staff but was “scared and needed to be chaperoned to her car”. In the car park, Fineanganofo ran his knife along another car, causing long and deep scratches.
Early the next day, for several kilometres from Minto to 7-Eleven Ingleburn, Fineanganofo beeped and flashed his headlights as he drove behind a white ute carrying traffic cones and signs.
At 4.44am, once they were out of their vehicles, CCTV showed Fineanganofo pushing the male driver and swinging a 28.5-centimetre knife with a 15.5-centimetre blade towards him.
The man threw his hands up and said, “F--- off, don’t touch me, I don’t even know you.”
Fineanganofo said, “You’re a man, you’re a man”, spun the knife around and put it in his pocket.
The driver was pursued across the road, then called police.
Fineanganofo struck another car on the walk back, making what that driver described as a “sadistic laugh”. He stole a cooler bag containing three two-way radios from the first ute and drove away.
As another car arrived, Fineanganofo yelled “F--- you” and “You wanna fight?” at the male driver, who replied, “Nah man, it’s all good, have a nice day” before going inside.
Fineanganofo reversed his car and banged on the 7-Eleven doors, which had been locked to prevent him from entering. He had “an angry smirk on his face”.
Minutes later, at Raby, Fineanganofo began following a car and flashing his lights again. Thinking something was wrong, the driver pulled over and got out.
Fineanganofo walked towards the man, “raised the knife above his head and brought it down”. The victim pushed back, but the knife struck his chest, piercing his puffer jacket and causing him to fall.
With a “calm” look, Fineanganofo waved the knife a second time. The man “thought he was going to be stabbed”.
At 5.26am, Fineanganofo arrived at Campbelltown McDonald’s, where Tougher was standing next to his ambulance.
Fineanganofo stabbed Tougher 55 times. The court previously heard others tried to intervene but Fineanganofo said, “I’m going to jail anyway, I may as well kill him”, or, “I’ve got to kill him.”
The facts state Fineanganofo said to Tougher: “Say you’re sorry to me, say you’re sorry,” and Tougher replied, “I’m sorry, mate, for whatever you think I’ve done.” The 29-year-old, who was newly married and an expectant father, died on the way to hospital.
Police swarmed the car park and urged Fineanganofo to drop the knife before he was Tasered.
Jeff Tougher said on Friday: “This fella made my son beg for his life and he took it anyway.”
As Fineanganofo was led away to the cells, one woman yelled out,“You chose not to take your medication, you’re the demon.” Another person said, “Rot in hell, you dog.”
Outside court, a male relative of Fineanganofo said: “We’re sorry.”
The matter was adjourned to November 14 when Crown prosecutor Ken McKay, SC, said 11 victim impact statements would be read.
Orders will also be made regarding Fineanganofo’s ongoing detention, which is expected to become a matter for the Mental Health Review Tribunal.
Get alerts on significant breaking news as it happens. Sign up for our Breaking News Alert.