Mental illness appeal in amputee killing

A man who fatally stabbed his aunt, a double amputee who lost her legs as a result of diabetes complications, will quarrel he was mentally ill at the time, a court has heard. Noel Keith Gardiner, 22, pleaded not guilty in the NSW Supreme Court today to murdering Elizabeth Phillips, who was found dead in her bed at her home at Casino, on the NSW north coast, in September 2009. Ms Phillips, 36, who used a wheelchair after losing both her legs from the knees down, had multiple stab wounds to her back, stomach, hands, forearm and head, court documents say.

Gardiner's barrister, Chris Bruce, told Justice Terence Buddin at the opening of the judge-alone trial that Gardiner's innocent plea was based on a Mental illness defence. Crown prosecutor Sarah Huggett tendered medical reports from two forensic psychiatrists, who both concluded such a defence would be available. Justice Buddin said because an admission had been made by the accused, "the only live issue is a question of whether or not he was mentally ill at the time of the deadly act".

Man accused For Raping Young Girl

An Elk Point man accused of raping a child has been sentenced to hand round 30 years in prison. Union County State's Attorney Jerry Miller says 37-year-old Trent Hemmingsen was sentenced on charges of sexual contact with a child under 16 and first-degree rape. He'll be eligible for parole in about 20 years.

Hemmingsen initially pleaded at fault but mentally ill. Miller says the judge reserved accepting the plea until Hemmingsen completed a mental health evaluation. Hemmingsen later changed his plea to guilty based upon the results of the evaluation. Court documents show Hemmingsen raped the girl, who is younger than 10, in his home during the summers of 2008 and 2009. He was ordered to pay the girl's medical and analysis costs.