A man twice convicted of assassinating South Australia’s former mental health chief has lost his bid to reduce his time in jail.
Key points:
- Jean Eric Gassy was found guilty of murdering Margaret Tobin in Adelaide in 2002
- Gassy argued in the Court of Appeal his sentence should be reduced, alleging Dr Tobin tried to kill him in 1994
- He alleged around that time an “agent of Tobin” had been sent to him to give him AIDS
Former New South Wales psychiatrist Jean Eric Gassy, 53, was found guilty in two trials of murdering Margaret Tobin in Adelaide in 2002 — out of resentment for her role in his deregistration at St George Hospital in Sydney eight years prior.
Dr Tobin had sought assurances to see if Gassy was mentally fit to work and suggested an independent assessment of his psychiatric condition.
He drove from Sydney to Adelaide, and fired four shots at Dr Tobin as she walked from a lift to her office where she worked at Hindmarsh Square.
He was convicted and given a life sentence in 2004, but won a retrial after representing himself in the High Court.
Gassy was originally given a 34-year non-parole period, but it was reduced to 30 years in his second trial.
His latest application to the Court of Appeal was permission to have his sentenced quashed and have a new non-parole period of 20 years.
Appearing self-represented last week in the Court of Appeal, Gassy argued his sentence should be reduced, alleging Dr Tobin tried to kill him in 1994.
“Her actions nearly cost me my life,” he said.
He alleged around that time an “agent of Tobin” had been sent to him to have unprotected sex with him to give him AIDS.
“As things were about to get intimate — she was shaking — which I thought was odd,” Gassy said.
Gassy told the Court of Appeal he was facing hardship in jail, believing corrections staff were putting an “agent” in the prison water — activating a virus that only he was experiencing.
“It’s an illegal and huge addition to my sentence — as a result of the stuff they put in the water — I’ve lost sight,” he said.
“It’s caused me grievous bodily harm — it’s a chemical assault.”
On Thursday Justice Mark Livesey, Justice Sophie David and Justice Laura Stein handed down their written judgement which states “none of the proposed grounds of appeal has any merit”.
When asked by Justice Livesey if he had anything to say after the decision was handed down Gassy replied.
“No your honour.”
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