Attempted killer’s chaotic court outburst
Chaotic scenes have erupted in a courtroom as a man who attempted to kill his neighbour in a violent stabbing attack, sparked over tree trimmings on his lawn, claimed there were “lies” in his case.
Shaun Michael White was due to be sentenced for trying to kill his neighbour in a violent stabbing attack at Caloundra West, on the Sunshine Coast, at the Supreme Court in Brisbane on Friday.
But proceedings became heated as White claimed the facts of the case were untrue – just minutes after pleading guilty to a single count of attempted murder.
He was then removed from the courtroom after harming himself in the dock.
White was charged with attempted murder after attacking his 45-year-old neighbour in the backyard of his property on April 13, 2022.
The man was left with stab wounds to his neck, back and chest and was taken to hospital in a critical condition.
White was arrested after attending Pomona Police Station a day later and has been remanded in custody ever since.
On Friday, the court was told problems emerged between White and his new neighbours when they moved into the Moreton Bay Dr home in 2019.
An agreed statement of facts, read to the court, states White made a chilling Facebook post a week before the stabbing.
“Nothing like being woken up first thing in the morning by your bogan neighbours after a long night of insomnia when you have a huge amount of work to do,” White wrote in the post, which was read out in court by Crown prosecutor Melissa Wilson.
White’s post also asked: “It’s not wrong to kill a bogan right?”
The neighbours sought a peace and good behaviour order against White due to the ongoing issues.
In a letter, White also complained of a sensor light at the front of his neighbours’ house that he claimed was causing his insomnia.
White interrupted proceedings to instead claim the light triggered his “photophobia” and gave him “debilitating” headaches.
The court was told the complainant’s wife returned home on the day of the incident and White began “ranting” to her about “cuttings” left on his property.
After the statement, White interrupted again and turned on his defence team.
“It should be about the truth … he (the complainant) cut trees on my property and that’s why I was upset,” White claimed.
“This is false. My lawyer just didn’t do his job.
“Those facts aren’t accurate.”
During a brief adjournment, White became distressed and self-harmed in the dock.
Corrective Services officers had to remove him from the courtroom as his rant continued to his family in the public gallery.
Upon returning, defence barrister Robert Glenday sought leave to withdraw as White’s legal representative.
“Unfortunately, a conflict on the instructions,” Mr Glenday told the court.
The case will be mentioned again on May 8.
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