An accused murderer walked out on his chef apprenticeship because he was hearing voices and could not concentrate, a court has heard.
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Christopher David Navin asked his boss for permission to leave from work early in November 2013.
Navin, 29, did not return the next day and tendered his resignation via text message, telling his boss he could not continue due to his mental condition.
Navin's ACT Supreme Court murder trial continued on Wednesday, with evidence from a number of former friends and the accused's employer.
Navin does not deny he killed his estranged friend in a frenzied stabbing attack on Boxing Day 2013.
But he has pleaded not guilty to murder by way of mental impairment.
Mr Sofer-Schreiber died from 73 stab wounds and was found by friends two days later on the floor of his Lyneham home.
The Crown alleges there had been bad blood between the pair and Navin sought revenge because he believed Mr Sofer-Schreiber had turned their friends against him.
Navin's former boss on Wednesday described how the accused had started a chef's apprenticeship with his restaurant in September 2013.
He said Navin had been an enthusiastic worker for the first month, including buying two knives.
But his performance dropped off, he had difficult relationships with some other staff, was moody, and his punctuality and presentation declined.
The boss said Navin's attitude and demeanour became hostile and arrogant, and he would cite his mental health for shortcomings.
He then left one shift after motioning at his head and saying the voices he could hear affected his concentration.The court also heard that Mr Sofer-Schreiber was spat on and pushed by Navin as their relationship soured in 2013.
A former housemate of the men described a number of fights between the pair when they lived together in Lyneham.
He said the pair would argue over rent and tidiness and he witnessed Navin spit in Mr Sofer-Schreiber's hair after one dispute.
The man also claimed he saw Navin push Mr Sofer-Schreiber as he walked up the stairs after the deceased told him to get out of his house.
Navin left the house and moved in with a friend for six weeks.
The friend told the court on Wednesday that Navin had called Mr Sofer-Schreiber a "f---wit", said that he hated him, and that he thought he had turned his friends against him.
But, under cross-examination, the friend said Navin seemed to "laugh it off".
The trial before Justice John Burns continues on Thursday.
