Life sentence for stabbing murder

A murderer who stabbed to death a vulnerable, invalid friend at a house in Langford has been sentenced to a life jail term with a minimum of 14 years.

The Supreme Court in Perth was told this morning that Christopher John Elliott, who has schizophrenia, suffered ongoing auditory hallucinations and delusions, believing he still heard the voice of his dead friend and he sometimes saw him in the prison yard.

Elliott was convicted by a jury in May of murdering Allan Raymond Heath, 47, on November 3, 2010.

Elliott had admitted a charge of manslaughter, but denied the murder.

Today, Justice Ralph Simmons said the 43-year-old had been staying at Mr Heath’s home from time to time, but the pair had been arguing in the week leading up to the murder.

He said Elliott had become obsessed and upset after Mr Heath had alleged he was a drug dealer.

Elliott had gone to his friend’s Langford home to collect some cat food and to confront Mr Heath when he stabbed him with a knife, inflicting a 15cm wound which penetrated his liver.

Justice Simmonds said Elliott had a continuing fascination with knives and his judgment at the time of the offence had been impaired by his low intelligence, schizophrenia and drug use.

Describing Elliott as having a "very sad history indeed", Justice Simmonds he had been using amphetamines, methamphetamine and cannabis at the time of the murder.

Elliott will be eligible to be considered for release on parole in November 2024.