The man who killed four people in a "prolonged and vicious" shooting spree through Darwin three years ago will spend the rest of his life in prison, after being sentenced to life with no parole.
During an hour-long, drug-fuelled rampage in June 2019, driving to different locations across the city, Benjamin Glen Hoffmann killed Hassan Baydoun, Michael Sisois, Nigel Hellings and Robert Courtney.
He also shot, seriously injuring, another young woman.
Most of his victims were unknown to him.
Hoffmann last year pleaded guilty to three counts of murder and one of manslaughter, several weeks into what was supposed to be a nine-week trial.
Supreme Court Justice John Burns handed him life sentences for each murder charge, with no possibility of parole.
In handing down his sentence, Justice Burns told the court "the victims were entirely innocent and were effectively defenceless".
"You intentionally [consumed] significant amounts of methamphetamine on both June 3 and 4, 2019, knowing that the use of this drug in the past had led [you] to engage in violence towards other people, including the use of weapons," he said.
'Prolonged and vicious' killing that victim 'fought hard against'
He described the murder of Hassan Baydoun as "a brutal killing, in which you shot the victim four times, twice to the right arm, once to the chest, and finally to the left side of his head".
Justice Burns also said the attack on Robert Courtney was "prolonged and vicious".
"Mr Courtney truly fought hard against you," he said.
"He sustained a minimum of 69 injuries, including gunshot wounds, stab wounds, incised wounds and blunt force injuries."
Justice Burns said Hoffmann's prospects of rehabilitation were poor.
"I have no doubt that as of now, you will return to methamphetamine use if released from prison," he said.
"You have a history of asserting a desire to change your behaviour, but you never carry through with these statements when you return to the community."
Justice describes Hoffmann's personality disorder, history of drug abuse
Justice Burns told the court about Hoffmann's history of drug use, including amphetamine and methamphetamine, and its impact on his criminal behaviour throughout his life.
"In a parole report dated the fifth of October 2018, you acknowledged having been addicted to drugs and having consumed illicit substances including methamphetamine daily from the age of 27," Justice Burns said.
He said he was therefore satisfied that Hoffmann was aware of the impact drugs had on his behaviour at the time he committed the killings.
"I am satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that before June 2019, you were aware that you had a propensity to violence, including the use of weapons when you're under the influence of drugs, and in particular methamphetamine," he said.
Justice Burns said Hoffmann had likely come off drugs while undertaking a residential rehab program until April 2019.
However, Hoffmann began using drugs again — "probably methamphetamine" — by early June 2019.
Hoffmann became "infatuated" with the woman he would go on to accuse of sleeping with Alex Deligianis, the man Hoffmann was searching for on the night of the killings, Justice Burns said.
"You became infatuated with [the woman] and your relationship became central … around April 2019," Justice Burns said.
"By mid-April 2019, you had begun speaking to your workplace about your belief that Alex Deligianis was sleeping with your girlfriend."
"I'm satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that by the second of June 2019 … you had formed an intention to obtain a gun for the purpose of shooting Alex Deligianis."
'I haven't really recovered'
Damita Jerome, who was shot in the knees by Hoffmann during his killing spree, said she was "just glad that justice has finally been served after three years and four months".
"I was a primary victim and I got hit with the bullet pellets in my knees," she told reporters outside court.
"I haven't really recovered.
"I'm still dealing with the injuries I have to my knees [and] legs, but I suppose there's not much I can do about that."
Hoffmann fired his lawyers
Justice Burns told the court Hoffmann's sentencing was delayed partly due to the fact that he dismissed the lawyers who were initially appointed to represent him.
"You expressed the belief that they held a conflict of interest and were not acting in your best interests," Justice Burns said.
"I saw nothing in the way in which your lawyer represented you in the course of your trial to suggest that your lawyers were doing anything [but] representing you to the best of their ability.
"Their task was made difficult because of your distrust arising out of your personality disorder."
Since he was charged in June 2019, despite being captured on police body-worn video apparently apologising for the atrocities, Hoffmann denied that he should be held criminally responsible for the shooting.
Through a series of lawyers, Hoffmann claimed he had mental health issues and was suffering from psychosis on the night he killed four people, whilst on parole.
During the trial, numerous medical experts were called to give evidence to Justice Burns, with prosecutors arguing the killer was not suffering a medical psychotic episode, but instead was high on methamphetamine.
Hoffmann likely to appeal sentence
Speaking outside court after the sentencing, Hoffmann's lawyer Dr Patricia Petersen said her client had "already indicated he intends to appeal the sentence".
"We'll just have to wait and see ... after Mr Hoffman sleeps on what's just happened, and thinks very carefully about whether he does wish to move on and go ahead with the sentencing appeal," Dr Petersen said.
"He is visibly upset ... he’s very shocked."
Before the sentencing, Dr Petersen said her client was suffering from "significant mental health issues".
"The more medication he takes and the better he becomes mentally, the more he is aware of what he’s done," she said.
“He has said that he prays for the victims, he cries for the victims, he feels sick to the stomach for what he’s done.
“And obviously any rational sane person would be mortified about killing four people and injuring others and doing what he did.”
