Broome Murder Case Sees Special Court Proceeding
A young man with an intellectual disability, charged with murder following a fatal stabbing in Broome, has been excused from attending a special court hearing after being found unfit to stand trial.
Ian Ralph Brooke, who was 21 at the time of the incident, is accused of fatally attacking Jordan John Rivers, 27, at a residence on Roe Place on November 20, 2023.
Court Decision and Psychological Assessment
Supreme Court of WA Chief Justice Peter Quinlan has ruled that the special proceeding, which he will hear on December 1, will be conducted without Mr Brooke's presence.
The decision follows a psychological assessment which concluded that forcing the accused to attend would be detrimental to his mental wellbeing. A psychologist reported that Mr Brooke found previous fitness for trial testing "frightening, confusing and overwhelming" and had requested not to be present for the sentencing evidence.
"It is my clinical opinion that Ian's mental health and wellbeing would be adversely impacted from having to be present at the special proceedings," the psychologist stated in a report, warning of an expected exacerbation of risk and vulnerability factors.
Aftermath and Legal Process
Mr Rivers died at the property on the day of the alleged attack. Police confirmed that Mr Brooke was known to the victim and was arrested a short time after the incident.
The case now moves to a special proceeding under the oversight of Chief Justice Quinlan, a process used when a defendant is deemed unfit for a standard criminal trial due to mental impairment.
