A Victorian judge has called for state and federal governments to do more to reduce the scourge of methamphetamine on the community, as he jailed a drug-addled man for a violent murder.
Bradley Taylor, 37, stabbed Christopher Kennedy to death in June 2020 during a drug-induced psychosis in Norlane, near Geelong.
Mr Kennedy, 49, had invited Taylor, who was homeless, inside his home for a drink after he stopped outside and asked for a cigarette.
Taylor was angry, exerting physical ticks and fixated on finding a pedophile to fight, a man at Mr Kennedy’s unit that evening said.
That man became scared and left the house, leaving Taylor and Kennedy alone.
A neighbour heard Mr Kennedy shout “f*** off and don’t come back” about 8pm before Taylor stabbed him 11 times in the chest.
Taylor, who had taken methamphetamine, grabbed a plastic bag and tied it around Mr Kennedy’s head.
His lawyer said Taylor used the bag to “catch his thoughts” as vo ices were falsely telling him the man was a pedophile.
Taylor turned on the gas stove, opened the oven and placed toilet rolls on the stove before leaving.
A community nurse found Mr Kennedy’s body the next day, covered by a doona.
Taylor pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to 23 years in prison in Victoria’s Supreme Court on Friday.
Justice Lex Lasry described the offending as terrible and violent and said community protection was an important factor in sentencing.
“This is a terribly sad case. Primarily it is sad because the man who lost his life in the most violent circumstances had done nothing to deserve the treatment you inflicted on him,” he said.
“On top of that, his family have had to deal not only with his loss but to defend him against the completely empty allegation that he was somehow sexually interested in children.”
Justice Lasry called on governments and the community to do more to address the widespread use of ice.
“This case is also another exampl e of the tragedy of the failure of the community to understand and deal with the scourge of methamphetamine addiction,” he said.
“Your consumption of this drug brought about a violent psychosis. We as a community are simply not doing enough to remedy or improve the problem created by this drug.
“Governments must do more, they must spend more money on facilities which can either cure or prevent the chronic overuse of methylamphetamine.
“The effect of methylamphetamine seems to me to be evident in almost every case I’ve tried in recent years.”
Taylor must serve 17 years before he is eligible for parole. He has already spent more than two years in pre-sentence detention.
