A 26 year-old man from near Bordertown has pleaded “not guilty” to the murder of Lucindale police officer Brevet Sergeant Jason Doig.
Brevet Sergeant Doig was responding to a call at Senior, around 20 kms north of Bordertown, when he was shot and killed.
Jadyn Stimson of Senior was charged with his murder.
Mr Stimson has also pleaded “not guilty” to the attempted murder of Sergeant Michael Hutchinson who was shot during the same incident and received non-life threatening injuries.
Bordertown’s Constable Rebekah Cass accompanied her colleagues who together were responding to reports an animal had been shot when Mr Stimson allegedly used his firearm and police returned fire.
While Brevet Sergeant Doig died at the scene, 120kms away from home, Constable Cass provided first aid to Sergeant Hutchinson and Mr Stimson.
Mr Stimson’s lawyers have argued that at the time of the incident their client from Senior had an undiagnosed mental health condition.
Addressing the media outside court, Mr Stimson’s lawyer Andrew Graham explained an investigation into his client’s mental health was continuing.
“That investigation needs to happen in the Supreme Court so he’s pleaded not guilty,” Mr Graham told reporters.
He said his client has been diagnosed with a psychotic illness.
Mr Stimson remains in custody at Adelaide’s forensic mental health service, James Nash House. He is due in September to stand trial in the Supreme Court.
This article appeared in the Naracoorte Community News.
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