A gardener accused of stabbing a Darwin mother to death in the yard of her suburban home has been deemed unfit to stand trial after receiving another psychiatric assessment.
Joerg Kloepper was charged with the murder of 39-year-old Leanyer mother and business owner Sheena Fairfield in late 2022.
Sheena Fairfield was found dead at her Leanyer property in 2022. (Supplied: Facebook)
The case has faced a series of delays due to psychiatric investigations into Mr Kloepper’s mental state and fitness to plead.
Crown Prosecutor Shane McMaster told the court on Thursday morning the latest psychiatric assessment, which is the fifth Mr Kloepper has received, confirmed the accused is “unfit to stand trial”.
Mr McMaster told the court while the crown accepted Mr Kloepper was not fit to plead, more time was required to determine whether he was mentally impaired at the time of the alleged murder.
“That’s a determination that’s yet to be made [by the crown],” he said.
Mr McMaster agreed the case needed to progress quickly but said three previous reports by psychiatrists, which made findings about Mr Kloepper’s mental state at the time of Ms Fairfield’s death, required further consideration.
“The crown, in consultation with the [victim’s] family are seeking further time to go through again the opinions of the three earlier psychiatrists in relation to cognitive impairment because the question relating to fitness is settled but it’s those three earlier reports that require more consultation.”
Mr McMaster requested the case be postponed until early next month to give the prosecution time to decide whether they would push for a special hearing.
Defence barrister Ambrith Abayasekara said it was their position that Mr Kloepper was both unfit to plead and mentally impaired at the time of the alleged offending.
The case will return to court on March 9.
Victim’s family ‘anxious’, members of parliament writing to court
Supreme Court judge Stephen Southwood emphasised the need to progress the case, saying family members of the victim were “getting very anxious”.
Sheena Fairfield’s family have been anxious as court proceedings have been delayed. (Supplied)
Mr McMaster agreed the case needed to progress and said he was in contact with the victim’s family to inform them why further delays were needed.
“I’m getting letters from members of parliament about it, so we need to get moving,” Judge Southwood said.
Under the separation of powers, parliament cannot interfere or exercise control over the courts.
In a statement, a court spokesperson confirmed the enquiry was made according to proper process.
Supreme Court judge Stephen Southwood said the case needed to progress. (Supplied: NT Supreme Court)
“Any member of the public, including any member of the parliament, is entitled to make an enquiry of the court concerning the reasons for a delay in an individual matter, provided that no approach is made directly to the presiding Judge and no attempt is made to influence the presiding Judge,” a court spokesperson said in a statement.
“The enquiry in this case was properly made in writing by an electorate officer to a member of the Court staff.”
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