Arabic version: اعتبار سميث غير مسؤول جنائياً عن قتل في بورك
According to ABC News, the NSW Supreme Court has found Andrew Charles Smith, 50, not criminally responsible by reason of mental impairment for the killing of his partner, Mavis Stanley, 47, in Bourke in October 2024. Justice Peter Hamill made the special verdict at a hearing in Dubbo.
The court heard Smith struck Ms Stanley multiple times with a rod-like object between October 26 and 29, inflicting blunt-force injuries that caused her death. He later moved her body from their home and left it on the roadway outside. Justice Hamill found Smith was probably suffering from schizophrenia and a delusional belief system, leaving him unable to reason about whether his actions were wrong.
Two forensic psychiatrists agreed Smith had been experiencing delusions around the time of Ms Stanley’s death. Listening-device recordings from his prison cell showed he was very unwell, thought-disordered and delusional, Justice Hamill said. The judge considered the couple’s history of domestic violence and Smith’s controlling behaviour, but accepted psychiatric evidence that Smith’s beliefs about Ms Stanley’s perceived infidelity were driven by delusions.
Ms Stanley’s daughter, Jennah-Leigh Dungay, told the court the killing had caused pain, sorrow, hurt and brokenness for her family. Relatives described Ms Stanley as a strong, caring and fiercely loyal woman who was deeply connected to her family. They said grief, sleeplessness and fear had followed her death, and that they could not prepare and farewell her body in accordance with cultural practices because of the extent of her injuries.
Justice Hamill said the finding of not criminally responsible could appear difficult or unjust to Ms Stanley’s family, but stressed it did not mean Smith would be released. He praised the family’s courage and dignity, saying their statements would remain in court records as a testament to Ms Stanley.
