The man accused of the brutal murder of a beloved police officer has been diagnosed with a “psychotic” mental illness and has admitted to the “objective elements’ of the tragic killing that left Australia’s police community in mourning.
Jaydn Stimson, 26, has been charged with murder and attempted murder after Brevet Sergeant Jason Doig was killed in a shootout on an isolated rural property in South Australia’s southeast in November last year.
Sergeant Doig, 53, was called to the property alongside Sergeant Michael Hutchinson and Constable Rebekah Cass following reports an animal had been shot.
Sergeant Hutchinson also suffered gunshot wounds during the shooting, with Constable Cass scrambling to provide emergency aid to her injured colleagues.
Mr Stimson has been held on remand at Adelaide’s James Nash House, a mental health facility, since January and appeared at Adelaide Magistrates Court via videolink on Thursday.
Andrew Graham, appearing for Mr Stimson, told the court that his client had admitted to shooting Sergeant Doig.
“With respect to count 1, the objective elements have been admitted,” he said.
Magistrate Brian Nitschke said the admission would be noted on the file.
Mr Graham also told the court that his client had been diagnosed with a “psychotic” mental illness and asked that he be formally remanded in James Nash House.
Speaking outside court after the hearing, Mr Graham said Mr Stimson’s mental competence at the time of the offence was now being assessed.
“Mr Stimson has been in James Nash House since January, he has been diagnosed with a psychotic illness, which is likely to be schizophrenia, and what’s happening is we are investigating his mental competence to commit the offences,” Mr Graham said.
“We’ve just received a brief from prosecution and so a psychiatrist will be examining that and we’ll go from there.
“Just because someone has a psychotic illness doesn’t necessarily mean they have a mental competence defence and that is what we need to investigate with the assistance of a psychiatrist.”
Mr Graham declined to comment on the attempted murder charge.
He said his client had not been diagnosed with a psychotic illness at the time of the killing.
Mr Nitschke set an answer charge date for June 20 when Mr Stimson will enter his pleas.
The killing sent shockwaves through South Australia, with Sergeant Doig farewelled in a police funeral at the Adelaide Convention Centre.
Sergeant Doig’s brother Brett shared an emotional tribute with the mourners.
“Jason has been robbed of his future. We all feel robbed of Jason’s future,” he said.
“He certainly lived life to the full, he embraced it, he never backed away from a challenge or a new adventure. We are very blessed to have been brought along with him on his ride.
“Love is stronger than death.”
Sergeant Doig served in the police force for 34 years and South Australia’s Limestone Coast community for more than a decade.
His s name will be added to the 823 names on the National Police Memorial in Canberra.