In a troubling case in Melbourne, a jury has yet to reach a consensus on the culpability of Mark Ludbrook, a 53-year-old wheelchair user who admitted to stabbing his friend, Autumn Baker, to death at his Hoppers Crossing residence on August 3, 2023. Despite acknowledging the act, Ludbrook refrained from accepting a murder charge, attributing his actions to the influence of the drug PCE, which he claimed distorted his mental state and impaired his ability to act deliberately.
During the trial, it was revealed that Ludbrook had consumed the illicit substance to cope with chronic pain caused by transverse myelitis. Eyewitness accounts, particularly from his carer, Amber Davison, painted a picture of his erratic behaviour on the day in question. She noted that he had been walking around naked, behaviour that was out of character for someone who usually struggled to move. He exhibited unusual conduct, such as thanking colours and expressing bizarre thoughts about needing to sleep with her to “save the animals,” indicating a significant alteration in his mental state.
Defence barrister Emily Clark argued that Ludbrook’s behaviour was indicative of a drug-induced state that precluded him from consciously or intentionally committing murder. Conversely, Crown prosecutor Jim Shaw contended that despite his drug use, Ludbrook was aware of his actions and should therefore be held liable for murder.
The jury, which began deliberations on August 25, ultimately could not arrive at a unanimous verdict on the murder charge. Consequently, Justice John Champion dismissed the jurors, leaving Ludbrook in legal limbo. He is scheduled for a directions hearing in the Supreme Court on September 16, which will determine the next steps in the case. This situation underscores the complexities surrounding mental state assessments in relation to criminal liability, particularly in instances involving substance abuse.