The sister of a mental patient who was beaten, had his locks ripped off his head, before being shot dead, is seeking justice.
Gail Halls, 39, said her brother Jake Halls, 38, was found murdered minutes after leaving a village bar in Matura on Saturday.
Pieces of Halls’ dreadlocks were ripped from his scalp. His face swollen and disfigured. There was also a gaping wound to his head, believed to have been caused by a single bullet shot from the gun held by his attacker or attackers.
Halls was found dead along the roadway at about 8.30 pm minutes after he left a village bar.
“Who would do this? Who would do this?” Gail repeated in shock as she broke down in tears as she spoke to members of the media outside of the Forensic Science Centre in St James on Monday.
Gail said her brother was diagnosed with drug-induced psychosis about 20 years ago and said, as a result, he would mentally trip off almost every year, especially around Christmas time.
She said that because of his condition, while most people thought of him as a “sweetheart” even police officers from the Matura Police Station, there were the ones who made fun of him and bullied him.
“I remember when I was 19 years old, he was already sick and I had to defend him from a man who was bullying him,” Gail said.
She said that when her brother was seven years old, he became devastated and traumatised after his father died. She said her father used to consume alcohol heavily and believed that his death was as a result of excessive consumption.
“My brother never recovered from our father’s death, and as he grew older, he started smoking marijuana and drinking alcohol and then he started to act up. That was when I took him first to St Ann’s when he was diagnosed with drug-induced psychosis,” Gail said.
She added that throughout the years sometimes when he fell ill, even the police officers in the village looked after his welfare. “There were many times that the police came to his aid and would take him to get his injections and other medication.”
“He was a sweetheart. Everyone looked out for him and loved him. When he wasn’t sick, he was violent sometimes, but most of the time he was calm and loved to dance and sing. He used to do a lot of acapella, rapping and chanting. He even did odd jobs for people around the place. He also loved to catch crab and hunt,” Gail said.
Gail said on Saturday he told his mother that he was going to a bar in the area, which she added, was a regular routine for him.
“I find it strange that no one saw when he left the bar and if he was followed, but I believe that this was an evil act against my brother and that he was bullied, beaten and killed. He probably would have known who did it too, maybe that’s why.”
Gail made a plea to help get justice for her brother by asking anyone who may have any information to give it to the police.
A police officer, who wished not to be identified, said that Halls’ brutal murder sent shock waves throughout the station. An autopsy revealed that Halls died from one gunshot wound to the head. Investigations are continuing.
Side Bar
According to the wayahead.org.au website, Drug-induced psychosis, also known as stimulant psychosis is a result of usage of drugs or stimulants that may trigger a psychotic episode. This can occur in individuals who have a predisposition to mental illness. By using drugs such as cocaine, cannabis and hallucinogens, it may exacerbate the symptoms of some mental illnesses. Some drugs if taken frequently for long periods may also manifest as psychotic symptoms. Symptoms may indicate Bipolar Disorder or Schizophrenia. Drug-Induced Psychosis is often a feature of Dual Diagnosis, which is a co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorder that requires specialised treatment.