A mentally ill man who imagined he was in a video game in Civic, brandishing a toy shotgun outside a bank and pointing it at a police car, has avoided jail time.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Jameer Huntman, 23, was delusional and suffering from a psychotic episode as he walked around Civic with the fake shotgun in broad daylight in August last year.
Huntman stood outside the HSBC bank on Ainslie Place and aimed the replica sawn-off shotgun into the air, pumping the action.
In his delusional state, Huntman imagined that his sunglasses were displaying a game score.
The sunglasses told him how many enemies he had killed, and how many were left.
His behaviour frightened the bank manager, who thought the shotgun was real, and the bank was about to be robbed.
Huntman was observed to point the shotgun at a parked police car, before leaving the area.
He was later seen near the Legislative Assembly in Civic Square, where a large crowd was assembled for a welcome home parade for Olympians returning from the London Olympic Games.
Police arrested Huntman and he gestured towards the gun hidden under his clothing, saying "it's in there".
He told officers that he was "probably due" to take his medication, and asked them why they couldn't just let him off with a warning.
Three months earlier, Huntman had approached a man withdrawing cash at an ATM in Dickson.
He asked him for $2 for his friend to buy a cheeseburger, but the man replied that he only gave money to charities.
Huntman showed him a piece of wire wrapped around his index finger, and said:
"I've got a shiv and I'm going to put it in you."
He showed the man the piece of wire, while hiding it from passers-by, and said "I could take your money off you".
The victim pulled out his phone and said he was calling the police, prompting Huntman to leave the area.
He was sentenced in the ACT Magistrates Court for both offences on Friday.
The court heard that Huntman, who was off his medication for both offences, had made considerable progress in addressing his mental illness and drug problems.
He has also shown remorse for the crimes, and understood how his actions may have frightened others.
He was receiving positive care from the Canberra Men's Centre and ACT Mental Health, and was visited twice-daily by the mobile mental health intervention team.
His defence lawyer told the court that Huntman had threatened the man at the ATM because he "wanted to not be the victim all the time", and wanted to scare him, rather than take his money.
The court heard that his behaviour in Civic was directly linked with psychosis.
Magistrate Peter Morrison noted that Huntman's pre-sentence report had established the strongest connection between mental illness and offending that "I've ever seen in my life".
The prosecution expressed fears that Huntman may relapse, stop taking his medication, return to drugs, and then reoffend.
Mr Morrison was limited in how he could sentence Huntman, because the 23-year-old was not deemed suitable for community service, periodic detention, or supervision under a good behaviour order.
But the court heard a full-time stint in prison would damage Huntman's mental health further.
Mr Morrison instead sentenced Huntman to a two year good behaviour order, not supervised by Corrective Services.
He told Huntman it was "extremely important" that he stay on his medication, even if he felt he didn't need it.
Huntman was warned he must not reoffend, to which he replied "I won't at all".
Support is available for anyone who may be distressed by calling Lifeline 131 114, Mensline 1300 789 978, Kids Helpline 1800 551 800.
