Darwin shooter Benjamin Hoffmann claims ‘discrimination’ from legal services during prison assault appeal

‘I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve it’: A man who mercilessly slaughtered four men in a Darwin mass shooting has claimed he is being discriminated against in his latest appeal.

A man who hunted down and mercilessly shot four people in a drug-fuelled rampage through Darwin has claimed he is facing “discrimination” in his appeal hearing.

Benjamin Hoffmann, who is serving three life sentences for three counts of murder, and one manslaughter, is attempting to appeal a three-month sentence for splashing coffee on a fellow prisoner in November 2021.

The 50-year-old appeared in Darwin’s Supreme Court on Monday in an attempt to overturn the aggravated assault conviction, arguing he had “incompetent” legal representation.

Hoffmann had claimed he felt threatened by Jason Doyle calling him a “f***head” the day before, and retaliated by feigning a punch before swiping the coffee into the other prisoner’s face and upper body.

However Hoffmann argued that the sentence was excessive as it did not adequately consider his post traumatic stress disorder, with his psychologist not called to give evidence.

“Blind Freddy can see that I have diagnoses,” Hoffmann said.

Ben Hoffmann on the phone at Holze Prison before he splashed coffee on a fellow inmate in November 2021. Picture: NT Courts

“My flight or fight is in overdrive, over-reactive.

“I’m anticipating being attacked, people yelling and screaming around me, I’ll get hot and cold flashes, I can feel the punches landing on my head.”

The 50-year-old prison ‘lifer’ said his PTSD worsened following a series of “brutal”, “premeditated, unprovoked” jailhouse assaults and “king hits”.

Hoffmann said in April 2021 he was attacked by three men, who punched and then repeatedly “kicked (me) along the ground, in and out of consciousness”.

He alleged in another attack a group of men were circling the yard repeating “full damage, full damage” before he was “stalked” and hit to the back of the head.

“Knocking me unconscious onto the ground, where I urinated my pants and everything,” he said.

Triple murderer Ben Hoffmann is pulled over by police on the morning of his 2019 Darwin killing spree. Picture: Courts NT

Hoffmann said these repeated prison assaults meant that when he was confronted by Mr Doyle: “It was a reaction, it was not an assault,”

Chief Justice Michael Grant set his appeal date for July 9, however questions remain about the mass shooter’s legal representation.

Hoffmann — who sacked two legal teams during his mass shooting trail — said he was being “discriminated” against due to delays in his Legal Aid funding approval.

“I don’t think I’m smart enough to represent myself,” he said.

“I will be making a fool of myself.”

“Because I have that life sentence, they’re basically saying I’m guilty of everything.

“I just can’t keep being shut down, I actually need funding for my representation because I’m probably in the most serious legal situation out of anybody in the Territory.

“I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve it.”

Originally published as Darwin shooter Benjamin Hoffmann claims ‘discrimination’ from legal services during prison assault appeal