A man who slashed a co-worker at a Mayfield cafe with a large knife before leaving the blade embedded in her chest has been found by a court to have committed the acts of violence but cannot be held criminally responsible because he was suffering from the effects of a severe mental health impairment - likely schizophrenia.
Adrian Stratton, 25, remains in custody after Judge Roy Ellis referred him to the Mental Health Review Tribunal for consideration after he delivered a special verdict in the judge-alone trial in Newcastle District Court on Tuesday.
