Labor and Economic Shooting: Gunman Russell John Tully’s Appeal Underway in Christchurch

The Ashburton Work and Income shooter’s appeal is ongoing in the Christchurch Court of Appeals.

In 2016, Russell Tully, now 54, was jailed for life with a minimum period of 27 years without parole.

Judge Cameron Mander described the shooting at the time as “cold-blooded executions” by a “very dangerous person”, who is capable of extremely violent actions.

Tully was found guilty of being the masked gunman who broke into the Mid-Canterbury WINZ facility on September 1, 2014.

He was only in the building for 60 seconds, but during that time he shot receptionist Peggy Noble, 67, point-blank, and shot case manager Susan Cleveland, 55, three times as she pleaded for her life. .

Tully was also found guilty of attempting to murder case manager Kim Adams, who felt a bullet go through her head.

He was found innocent of attempting to assassinate case manager Lindy Curtis, who was shot in the leg and seriously injured while hiding under a desk.

Tully is representing himself in court today, with the support of amicus curiae Christopher Stevenson.

His demeanor is much calmer than in previous court appearances, during one of which he had to be removed from court and restrained in a wheelchair.

Today he is sitting quietly on the bench with the Corrections staff, going through banana boxes with lengthy notes and paperwork he has prepared.

Stevenson is currently questioning Tully’s amicus curiae at the time of his original trial, James Rapley QC, who is being asked about his interactions with the defendant at the time and whether he believes Tully was able to fully participate in the trial.

Rapley has told the court that Tully spent much of his pretrial time worrying about a skin condition that he thinks he has, which he treats by pouring hydrogen peroxide into his ear canals.

The court heard Tully tell attorneys that he believed he had only two years to live and that he would die in jail.

Rapley confirmed that Tully was concerned in meetings about how he did not have time to prepare for his trial, because it took him five hours a day to treat his condition.

He also confirmed that Tully was unable to be present for most of the trial, and claimed that he was unable to hear the evidence because his ears were sore.

“At one point, Tully was just lying under a blanket moaning as the trial continued downstairs.”

Tully has argued that he was not physically or mentally fit to stand trial and believes that he may have an extra chromosome.

The gunman has now questioned his amicus curiae at the time of trial, James Rapley QC, and has made his own presentation to the Court.

Tully asked Rapley why he never sought a specialized medical opinion on his reported condition.

“The skin is the largest organ in the body, it is made up of multiple layers. Did you ever think of sending me for more tests?”

Rapley said she did not think further testing was necessary for her skin.

But Tully argued that almost all of the medical reports were done by primary care specialists and a microbiologist who only gave him a cursory glance.

Tully also asked Rapley if he thought the man had a neurosis.

“I certainly saw that you had certain personality traits … I didn’t feel like you could pay attention, understand or speak. I have dealt with clients who were in that space, who didn’t even know who I was.”

In his own presentation, Tully gave evidence that he was in constant mental anguish in his management unit at the Christchurch Men’s Prison.

“I received some documents from the court … and I actually destroyed them myself.

“I thought the redacted black lines were bad, so I broke them, put noodles on them, and prayed on myself.”

Tully mentioned that she had a skin test done, which an expert told her looks like she might have an extra Y chromosome.

Presiding Judge Forrest Miller said there is now funding for a DNA profile to prove this.

Current amicus curiae Christopher Stevenson has argued in his presentation to Tully he was given incorrect advice that he could not plead insanity.

He has received an additional psychological report suggesting that the intensity of Tully’s belief in the condition of his skin indicates a disease of the mind.

“Much of what was considered obstructive behavior [in his trial] It could have been outrage that her condition was considered psychological.

“His unwavering, fixed belief that a skin condition reaches the brain would have obstructed meaningful participation in the trial.”

The right to be present extends both psychologically and physically, Stevenson said.

However, the Crown’s attorney, Rebecca Thomson QC, rejects the arguments that Tully was insane and said his skin condition is irrelevant to his offense.

“All psychologists say he has a defiant personality, but he was not insane in a relevant sense at the time of the crime.”

While Thomson acknowledged that psychological reports say she may have an antisocial or narcissistic personality disorder, she said none of the doctors had enough information about her past to diagnose it.

Tully has so far only been diagnosed with a somatic delusional disorder, centered on his alleged illness.

But he rejects this diagnosis, Thomson said.

“There is clear evidence when he went there that day, he knew what he was doing was morally wrong.

“He hid his cell phone … he wore a ski mask … he got away on his bike while eluding people’s attempts to stop him, and even traded it for another bike hidden nearby. He also got rid of his shotgun.”