A New South Wales court has been told Bradley Jason Mark White was "off his rocker" and "totally crazy" when he fired more than 220 shots at five homes and eight cars in a suburban Wyong street on the Central Coast in March 2020.
Mr White, 42, is on trial in the Newcastle Supreme Court, charged with murder over the death of Byron Tonks, 20, who was shot dead in his lounge room, while two others suffered back and shoulder injuries.
The court heard that for an hour on that late March afternoon, Cutler Drive was under attack from "a haze of bullets" fired by Mr White from inside his front door.
The accused faces seven charges, including murder, discharging a firearm with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and shooting a firearm at a dwelling with reckless disregard for the safety of any person.
It is not disputed the accused used two rifles, including a .22 semi-automatic gun, to fire at neighbours from his front door on that day, but he has pleaded not guilty on the grounds of mental or cognitive impairment.
The Crown rejects this and argues his use of the drug ice must be considered "a critical factor".
During the two-week trial, numerous psychiatrists and psychologists have been called as expert witnesses to give evidence about Mr White and his potential state of mind at the time of the shooting.
The jury heard he suffered an ongoing brain injury after being attacked 20 years ago.
In his police interview, Mr White said that he always felt "under attack" from some of the people in his street and "was trying to prove a point to them".
Mr White said he had been off drugs for almost two months but ingested about one gram of ice hours before and during the shooting.
"I was fine until I got angry," he said.
He knew his actions 'were wrong'
In the Crown's closing address, prosecutor Kate Ratcliffe rejected claims Mr White had a mental or cognitive impairment because she argued it did not fit with the evidence.
Ms Ratcliffe reiterated that he told police he knew his actions "were wrong".
She instead suggested it was a complex mix of factors, which involved Mr White's traumatic family background of abuse and abandonment, his hostile view of the world, as well as agitation at trying to stay off drugs.
She said these were all exacerbated by his use of ice.
However, defence barrister Mark Hobart said his client's "murderous rage" demonstrated it was "more probable than not that he was mentally unwell or insane".
He reminded the jury Mr White saw his psychiatrist about intense mood swings and wanting to kill his neighbours two weeks before the shooting.
"He wasn't able to control himself or determine what was right or wrong," Mr Hobart said.
"He was off his rocker and totally crazy."
The jury was told the accused was acutely unwell with a psychotic disorder, was withdrawing from drugs and "became unhinged and paranoid about his neighbours".
"He was so unwell, he couldn't control himself and was overcome by that," Mr Hobart said.
The jury is expected to begin its deliberations this afternoon.
