Moree, Australia — A judge has retired to deliberate on a significant murder trial that centers on the mental state of a man who has confessed to killing his father earlier this year. The accused, Robbie Wheeldon, now 25, faces a murder charge following the death of 59-year-old Malcolm Wheeldon, whose body was discovered in the front yard of their home in Pilliga, located in northwestern New South Wales.
During the judge-only trial, which took place in Moree, Judge Desmond Fagan emphasized that the core issue is not whether Wheeldon committed the act, but rather the mental health implications surrounding it. Wheeldon has pleaded not guilty by reason of mental impairment.
Crown prosecutor Neriss Keay presented CCTV footage and police body camera recordings aimed at illustrating Wheeldon’s mental condition at the time of the incident. According to Keay, Malcolm Wheeldon suffered multiple stab wounds and was also strangled, with the injuries causing his death.
Robbie Wheeldon’s girlfriend at the time, Danielle Newman, testified about troubling behavior leading up to the murder. She recounted that Wheeldon had gone days without sleep prior to the fatal incident and showed signs of alarming unpredictability. “He would talk to himself and become agitated,” Newman said, expressing her fear as the situation escalated. In a moment of panic, she chose to lock herself in the bathroom out of concern for her safety.
Just before the assault, Newman attempted to escape to a neighbor’s house, only to witness Wheeldon viciously confronting Malcolm. “I came out of the bathroom, and Robbie pushed him to the ground,” she said. Another neighbor, Warwick Hall, corroborated her account, describing Wheeldon with blood on his clothes immediately after the confrontation.
Forensic psychiatrist Gerald Chew testified that Wheeldon was experiencing severe mental health issues at the time of the incident. He characterized Wheeldon as “acutely unwell” and suggested the presence of significant psychotic symptoms. Dr. Chew indicated that Wheeldon might suffer from schizophrenia and was not cognizant of the wrongfulness of his actions when the attack occurred.
The trial has revealed a complex picture of mental health struggles, with Dr. Chew elaborating that Wheeldon had faced chronic depressive episodes and psychosis before the crime. Furthermore, toxicology reports confirmed that he was not under the influence of drugs during the incident, alleviating earlier concerns about substance abuse contributing to his actions.
As Judge Fagan prepares to reach a verdict, he acknowledged that the expert testimonies have provided clarity on Wheeldon’s mental state. The trial, originally slated for two weeks, could see a decision as early as Wednesday afternoon, as the judge focuses on the implications of mental illness in the context of the charges against Wheeldon.