The jury returned that verdict on Monday afternoon. As they were discharged, Dhanji acknowledged the “somewhat unusual” course.
“In this particular case, as it transpired, ultimately the medical evidence was all one way, albeit that they all got there by different routes,” the judge said.
The crime scene in Deniliquin in November 2021.Credit: Nine News
Many witnesses were spared the experience of testifying in court as their evidence was not disputed, and instead had their statements read to the jury, including Jenny Patterson who is the mother of Patterson and James.
She had visited her children on the morning of the incident and left before she was called back to the home by James, who said her brother had “gone mad”, “smashed up the bathroom” and was yelling.
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In her statement, Jenny Patterson said she arrived to see James’ face covered in blood and said, “Come here, Jode” before her son yelled, “no, no”.
“He was so aggressive, I’ve never seen him like this before,” the mother said. “I saw Jody put her arms up in the air, and she was saying, ‘No, Jason, no, Jason.’
“Jason yelled at me, ‘Back off, go, go’ … I can only assume he didn’t want me to see what was happening.”
The mother said she heard another neighbour remark, “He has set her alight”.
In video of his arrest outside the home he shared with his sister, Patterson laughs and tells police, “It’s the Illuminati, mate … look at the circle on the front lawn”.
Patterson, who is in custody, will be reviewed to determine his risk to the community or himself, and treated and detained until the Mental Health Review Tribunal greenlights his release.