An Australian university student who killed his girlfriend because he believed she was a demon after taking LSD was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Jordan Brodie Miller, 22, was violently beaten by his two-year partner, Emerald Wardle, while deluded and experiencing a psychotic condition brought on by the brief side effects of his drug usage, according to Newcastle Supreme Court Justice Richard Cavanagh.
Miller, according to Justice Cavanagh, thought he was cursed and that the only way to break the spell was for him to kill either Wardle or himself.
Although the symptoms of his initial psychotic episode were only momentary, the court indicated today that they were present when he killed Ms. Wardle.
Miller, who was 20 at the time, confessed strangling Wardle, 18, but pleaded not guilty to murdering her. He did this by saying he was in a psychotic state and could not be held criminally liable. Wardle was also 18 at the time.
After a two-week trial and a 12-hour deliberation period, the jury found Miller guilty of murder in June, rejecting his allegations that an unidentified form of underlying schizophrenia was to blame for the murder.
Miller was charged with murder because it was his choice to use drugs, according to the crown prosecutor Lee Carr SC, who maintained that Miller was drug-induced in the killing and that there were no early indications of a psychotic disorder.
Miller, according to Justice Cavanagh, honestly believed Wardle was a demonic creature that needed to be slain.
“There is no logical or sensible explanation for what this signifies. This is because it was an illogical belief or thought.
“Having said that, the only finding available is the offender intended to kill Ms Wardle. The fact is that he strangled her. However, that does not mean the attack on Ms Wardle was some sort of planned event. ”
The judge said a letter written by Miller in August to the court and Wardle’s family showed he was remorseful.
“I want it to be known that in my sound mind I would never have done anything like this,” Miller wrote.
“I loved Emerald so much.
“Having said that, the only conclusion that can be made is that the murderer planned to kill Ms. Wardle. He did, in fact, strangle her. That does not imply, though, that Ms. Wardle’s attack was preplanned.
According to the judge, Miller expressed regret in a letter he wrote to the court and Wardle’s family in August.
In his letter, Miller stated, “I want it to be known that in my sound mind I would never have done something like this.
“I was in love with Emerald.
Miller admitted taking a half-tablet of LSD 11 days before to his arrest and claimed to have attained spiritual awareness, but Emerald had been “trying to suck the life out of me.” Miller had been a habitual cannabis user since the age of 14 and had no history of violence or mental illness.
Miller was outside near the gate when officers arrived at the scene at 1:30 a.m. He was dressed in tracksuit pants with no shirt or shoes. He sprinted in their direction, screaming for assistance.
In her moving victim impact statement to the judge, Wardle’s mother, Tania Simshauser, explained how Miller was the actual monster and not her daughter because she was dissatisfied with how her daughter was portrayed during Miller’s trial.
“She wasn’t an evil spirit. She was a sweet young lady who was my daughter by birth but ended up becoming my closest friend “Added Simshauser.
I, however, will always have devils in my head.
I am plagued by devils every night as I prepare to go to bed.
As a mother, I am aware that my baby girl died feeling frightened and alone, and that devil will always be with me.
Miller will be qualified for release following 13 years in prison.
Man sentenced for killing ‘devil’ lover while under the influence of LSD
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