Sheena Fairfield’s alleged murderer Joerg Kloepper admitted to Darwin hospital mental health unit
A gardener who allegedly stabbed a beloved Leanyer mother to death in her yard has been admitted to Darwin hospital, delaying the ongoing murder investigation.
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A gardener accused of stabbing a Darwin mother to death outside her home has been admitted to an acute psychiatric unit.
Joerg Kloepper, 56, was due to appear before Judge Greg MacDonald in the Darwin Local Court on Wednesday charged with the murder of Leanyer woman Sheena Fairfield on November 11.
The 39-year-old mother was allegedly found bloodied in her yard by her husband Mick Fairfield, her body marked by multiple stab wounds and cuts to her wrist.
It is understood her five-year-old daughter was at the home at the time, with Mr Fairfield saying his terrified daughter hid under a blanket for hours after the alleged attack.
A police manhunt for the alleged murderer tracked down Kloepper to a Rosebery property, 20km from the crime scene.
It is alleged Territory Response Group officers negotiated with the 56-year-old for more than an hour before he was taken into Royal Darwin Hospital with non-life threatening injuries sustained before his arrest.
Police have alleged Ms Fairfield and Kloepper knew each other, but the alleged murder was not considered a domestic violence related attack.
Kloepper was due to return to Darwin Local Court for a preliminary examination mention two months after his initial appearance in the immediate wake of Ms Fairfield's death.
However, a court spokeswoman confirmed the 56-year-old could not appear by a prison video link into the court as he was at the Joan Ridley Unit, a secure acute psychiatric mental health area in Royal Darwin Hospital.
The spokeswoman said Kloepper was taken from Holtze prison to the hospital prior to his anticipated court appearance.
His matter was adjourned to March 29.
NT Health said prisoner-patients had the same rights and responsibilities as all other hospital clients, but were not free to leave with additional security agreed by the Mental Health Services and Correctional Services.
Corrections have been contacted for comment.
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Originally published as Sheena Fairfield’s alleged murderer Joerg Kloepper admitted to Darwin hospital mental health unit
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