NSW paramedic Steven Tougher’s final words to killer are read out in court – as he pleads not guilty by reason of mental illness

A man who stabbed paramedic Steven Tougher to death outside a McDonald’s appeared to be in a trance and may have been experiencing a psychotic episode, a court has been told.

Mr Tougher was stabbed 55 times during a break during a service in Campbelltown, south-west Sydney, in the early hours of April 14, 2023.

Jordan James Fineanganofo, 23, admitted stabbing the 29-year-old to death but pleaded not guilty to murder due to mental health concerns at the start of what was expected to be a six-week trial in the NSW Supreme Court. Monday.

The court was told that prosecutors had agreed to a mental health sentence if Fineanganofo signed a statement of facts acknowledging the physical elements of the crime, which were captured on CCTV.

Rather than proceed with the trial, Judge David Davies adjourned the court until Friday to consider whether the mental health defense had been proven.

Pained cries were heard from family members as the court was told details including Fineanganofo did not say a word as he approached and began stabbing Mr Tougher in a chilling attack that lasted almost four minutes.

Fineanganofo hung his head and covered his face as details of the murder were read to the court.

Crown prosecutor Ken McKay SC said Tougher was unable to escape as he was trapped between the back of the ambulance and his attacker.

Pictured is Steven Tougher (right) and his wife Madison

Mr Tougher tried to push Fineanganofo away, but was unsuccessful. He said, ‘What are you doing? Stop stabbing me, buddy.”

Despite the efforts of several people to help, Fineanganofo continued to stab Mr Tougher, walking away several times before returning to inflict further wounds as the NSW paramedic lay on the ground.

At one point Fineanganofo told Mr Tougher: “Say you’re sorry.”

“I’m sorry mate, whatever you think I did,” a badly injured but still conscious Mr Tougher replied.

Bystander James Arthur ran over in an attempt to help, kicked Fineanganofo and shouted at him to stop.

“You’re going to kill him,” Mr Arthur said, the court was told.

In response to calls from another bystander, Fineanganofo allegedly said: “I’m going to jail anyway, I might as well kill him” or “I have to kill him because I have to go to prison.”

Fineanganofo has also pleaded not guilty on mental health grounds to a series of charges over alleged incidents in nearby suburbs in the days leading up to Mr Tougher’s murder.

These incidents included intimidating a woman pushing a stroller carrying a five-month-old child, threatening several men at a gas station and brandishing a knife at a man during a roadside incident, puncturing his jacket but not his skin.

Fineanganofo’s lawyer AJ Karim said the defense’s position was largely identical to that of the prosecution, including that the physical acts of the offenses had been committed.

The prosecution and defense brought in psychiatrists who agreed that Fineanganofo could claim he knew what he was doing but didn’t know it was wrong.

Pictured is 23-year-old Jordan James Fineanganofo

Forensic psychiatrist Kerri Eagle, retained by the prosecutor, determined that Fineanganofo had a mental health disorder at the time of the offense and exhibited signs and symptoms of a psychotic illness consistent with a relapse of schizophrenia.

Dr. Eagle noted witness statements describing Fineanganofo as “he was in a trance, calm, mumbling, grinning and strange,” the court was told.

Mr McKay said Fineanganofo had previously been charged after attacking a neighbor in 2021, but rather than face charges he involuntarily entered treatment for mental health problems.

According to hospital records, at the time, Fineanganofo had been isolated in his family home for a year with minimal interaction with others, causing him to become increasingly paranoid about people, including his family.