"Rot in hell": Family of murdered paramedic speak out over ruling
The man charged with murdering New South Wales paramedic Steven Tougher has been found not criminally responsible due to a mental health impairment, with Tougher's family "appalled" by the decision.
In April 2023, Tougher, 29, was stabbed in a McDonald’s carpark by Jordan Fineanganofo, 23, in a frenzied attack at 5am in the Sydney suburb of Campbelltown.
The father-to-be had been eating with a colleague when he was approached by Fineanganofo, who stabbed him 55 times and leaving 24 incised wounds.
“I am going to f**king kill you,” Fineanganofo said to Mr Tougher, according to the agreed facts and court documents.
Mr Tougher was rushed to hospital after the attack, but suffered a cardiac arrest and died at the hospital shortly after he arrived.
Both the defence and the Crown prosecutor agreed the court could find Fineanganofo was not responsible because of his mental health issues, with Justice David Davies stating on Friday that he cannot be held criminal responsible.
“I am satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused committed the psychical acts,” he said.
“(I) find the accused was suffering from a mental impairment at the time he committed the acts”.
Justice Davies found Fineanganofo had been suffering from a mental health impairment at the time of the attack and did not know the wrongness of his actions because of his illness.
The court was told Fineanganofo experienced auditory hallucinations, increasing paranoia, and suicidal ideation before the deadly attack, as the 23-year-old told psychiatrists that he heard voices telling him to harm himself and others in the weeks leading up to the offences, and believed he was surrounded by malignant demons.
As Justice Davies handed down his decision, Tougher's friends and family broke down in court.
“You chose not to take your medication, you’re the demon,” one person shouted at Fineanganofo as he was taken into custody, while another person yelled, “Rot in hell, you dog.”
Outside court, Mr Tougher’s father Jeff said the family were “appalled” with the outcome.
“It is neither what we wanted nor what we expected,” he said. “Stephen has been lost in this deeply flawed and broken process.”
The heartbroken father said the family “strongly oppose” the court's decision to agree to a finding of not criminally responsible, and they were “deeply offended” they were not consulted before the decision was made.
Mr Tougher’s father said the family would be pushing for an inquest into the “deplorable” circumstances surrounding his son’s death.
“We are damaged today, but we’re not broken. The system is broken, and as a family, we will be fighting for change,” he said. “My son will not be forgotten, nor will his death be dismissed.”
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