A 30-year-old man has been found not guilty by way of mental impairment of murdering a 61-year-old yoga and pilates instructor in her Heidelberg West home last year.
by way of mental impairment of murdering Maud Steenbeek, who was on a Skype call to her brother in the Netherlands when she was attacked.Ms Steenbeek was in her Heidelberg West home on January 28 last year when at 8pm Mr O’Neill entered, confronted her and bashed her with a Samoan wooden paddle he found in the house. Mr O’Neill lived in a nearby street but didn’t know Ms Steenbeek.
Two experts on Monday agreed Mr O’Neill, 30, attacked Ms Steenbeek amid either an acute psychotic episode or a manic episode.Justice Elizabeth Hollingworth found a defence of mental impairment was made out and entered a verdict of not guilty. Prosecutors did not oppose the mental impairment defence. Outside that house, the father and a resident thought Mr O’Neill was either mentally unwell or drug affected as he rolled on the ground and scribbled in dirt. He was also seen trying to climb into a stormwater drain and playing with an electrical pole.The court heard one of Ms Steenbeek’s sons, Adam, arrived at her home and fought off and subdued the killer but was unable to save his mother, as police arrived.
Mr Gibson said Mr O’Neill had a strained relationship with his mother over his dysfunctional upbringing. The mother was a drug addict and sex worker, he didn’t know his father and he was raised by his grandfather.