A man who was high on an illegal, synthetic drug when he murdered his friend has been jailed, with a judge describing the case as 'most unusual'.
Mark Ludbrook has been sentenced to 19 years' prison after killing his friend in 2023. The court heard Ludbrook had ingested a drug known as PCE when he began to behave unusually and stabbed Autumn Baker to death when she went to check on him.
Ludbrook must serve a minimum of 14 years and with time served could be released on parole in June 2038. A man who was high on an illegal, synthetic drug when he murdered his friend has been jailed, with a judge describing the case as "most unusual". On Thursday, Justice James Gorton sentenced Ludbrook to 19 years behind bars, ordering him to serve a minimum of 14 years before being eligible for parole.
The court heard Ludbrook had been taking illegally sourced ketamine to deal with chronic pain from transverse myelitis, a rare neurological spinal cord condition that meant he used a wheelchair. Ludbrook's drug dealer sold him a different drug known as PCE, promising it was a "new" type of ketamine. Justice Gorton said Ludbrook took a "double dose" of PCE, causing his behaviour to become erratic on the day of the murder.
Ludbrook was at home with his carer Amber Davison, who was shocked and concerned by what unfolded.
"You behaved like a vibrant expressive game-show host, but you were not making sense," the judge said. Ludbrook, who could normally only walk a few steps unassisted, was able to get out of his wheelchair and pace around his property for about 90 minutes. He stripped off his clothes, thanked colours, rubbed money on himself and began talking to plants in his backyard, the court heard.
Autumn Baker had gone with Mark Ludbrook's carer to check on him when he stabbed her to death. Concerned, the women followed him, and tried to intervene when Ludbrook stabbed himself twice in the abdomen. A distressed Ms Davison rang police, who arrested Ludbrook in the backyard.
"You were saying letters and words that made no sense in the context of what was happening," Justice Gorton said. The judge said PCE was a relatively new drug only been seen in recent years, and that it caused some euphoria but unwanted side effects. Officials warned of likely "unexpected dissociative effects" and a loss of judgement.
Ludbrook pleaded not guilty at his trial, arguing the killing was not a voluntary act because of his drug use and that he did not have murderous intent. On Thursday, dozens of Ms Baker's loved ones gathered in the Supreme Court for Ludbrook's sentencing hearing. Justice Gorton said the case was "most unusual" and that Ludbrook's behaviour was "entirely inexplicable".
"It is simply not acceptable to engage in violence even when under the influence of illicit drugs,"The judge took into account Ludbrook's lack of criminal record and difficulties he would experience in prison because of disability when imposing the 19-year sentence.
Autumn Baker Murder Hoppers Crossing Pce Synthetic Drugs
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