A 25-year-old individual has been deemed not criminally responsible for the deadly stabbing of his roommate in Tweed Heads West, according to a ruling from the New South Wales Supreme Court.
The presiding judge based his ruling on evaluations from six psychologists, leading to a special verdict in the case. As a result, Connor Bullus will be held in custody, with the case being forwarded to the Mental Health Review Tribunal for further proceedings.
In 2024, a court determined that Bullus was not criminally accountable for the incident due to his inability to recognize the wrongfulness of his actions. Justice Greg Sirtes stated that the verdict was warranted given Bullus’s mental health challenges, specifically noting a mental impairment and a diagnosis of schizophrenia.
Evidence presented in court revealed that Bullus had been residing with the 61-year-old victim, Donna Baraket, for four months prior to the incident. Tensions escalated when Bullus allegedly became violent after Baraket refused to share her cannabis with him. A neighbor testified that Baraket was known for offering assistance to homeless individuals and described some of the visitors to her home as “shady.” The neighbor recounted hearing Bullus verbally abuse Baraket days before her death.
Justice Sirtes also referenced a victim impact statement from a relative, who depicted Baraket as a joyful and free-spirited person. The statement highlighted Baraket’s role as a caregiver for her mother over the past decade and expressed the profound impact her death had on her elderly mother, now left alone.
On the day of the murder, Bullus reportedly attended a meeting with a social worker, during which he expressed that Baraket wanted him to leave the residence “for no reason.” He claimed that she frequently accused him of uncommitted offenses but declined the social worker’s suggestion to reach out to Link2Home for alternative housing options.
The court learned that Baraket had been with a friend when Bullus returned to their home. After the friend departed, Bullus armed himself with a large kitchen knife, entered her bedroom, and stabbed her multiple times. Following the attack, Bullus exited the residence and asked a passerby for assistance in getting to the hospital for a stab wound he had sustained on his hand.
Justice Sirtes indicated that his decision was heavily influenced by the findings of the six psychologists, which included insights into Bullus’s episodes of acute psychosis. The assessments revealed that, during the offense, Bullus experienced auditory hallucinations, with voices from the radio urging him to commit the act. The judge concluded that Bullus exhibited a lack of insight and had distorted reasoning regarding his actions.
As a result, the judge mandated that Bullus be held in a correctional facility or another appropriate location as determined by the Mental Health Review Tribunal.
