A love-struck man accused of murdering four men in Darwin as he searched for his girlfriend says one of the men had poisoned him two days before being shot dead.
Benjamin Glenn Hoffmann, 47, apologised for the killings in a police interview saying "he was out of his mind" and temporarily insane during a drug-fuelled shooting spree on June 4, 2019.
He has pleaded not guilty to four counts of murder and 10 other serious charges, including threatening to kill and recklessly endangering life.
In the days after the rampage, Hoffmann told police he believed the third man killed, Michael Sisois, 57, had poisoned him in an attempt to kill him two days earlier.
"I reckon I was spiked. Maybe with a substance or something," he said in a recording played to the Northern Territory Supreme Court on Thursday.
"I think Sisois did it. That Greek guy. I don't know if he used tranquilliser or tried to poison me."
Hoffmann told officers he struggled to speak and walked around in circles after the alleged poisoning.
He said Mr Sisois was a friend but that he had started "acting real dodgy over the past few weeks".
"Whatever this was I haven't had any type of reaction like it," he said after telling officers he was a recovering drug addict.
"I was f***ed. I was starting to lose consciousness."
Hoffman said he went to a hospital for medical help after the alleged poisoning but was turned away.
He also detailed the stress he'd endured in the lead-up to June 4, as he tried to help his then-girlfriend, Kelly Collins, beat drug addiction.
"I'm really worried I won't be able to explain the f***ing intensity of the s*** I've been going through over the last few months," he said in recordings of interviews played for the jury.
He described Ms Collins as an "ex-working girl" who suffered a "rapid decline" after she was preyed upon by drug-dealing men in recent months
"I f***ing struggled to get her in the right situation," he said.
"Two people trying to get somewhere and everyone else was interfering.
"Interfering to the point where they were abusing her ... Drugging her and porn-ing her out.
"Not only is it evil, it's a crime."
During the interviews, Hoffmann also asked about the shootings and a man named Alex, to which the officer replied: "Nobody by the name of Alex was involved".
"This one particular dealer and pimp, the particular pimp that we're talking about, he has deliberately gone out of his way to f***ing to interfere," he said.
Prosecutor Lloyd Babb SC has previously said Hoffmann was also searching for Alex Deligiannis on June 4.
Hoffmann also referred to his involvement in the shootings that he has since denied being involved in.
"I was totally out of my mind when these instances happened. I was a complete f***wit that day," he said.
Hoffmann said he believed at the time that he was being followed by people who wanted to harm him.
"I was in fear for my life," he said.
He also said he was ashamed of his actions and his symptoms triggered by the poisoning were ongoing.
"Sorry doesn't cut it in a way but if there was a substance used on me intentionally and I believe it damaged me."
The Crown says Hoffmann shot Mr Sisois in the head with a shotgun in the car park at The Buff Club a day after demanding via text message he bring a woman to him.
"I will f***ing wreck you, Sisois. Bring her to me. I'll f*** you up," the message read.
Before Mr Sisois was killed, Hoffmann allegedly shot dead Hassan Baydoun, 33, at the Palms Motel and Nigel Hellings, 75, at an apartment complex.
Rob Courtney, 52, also died after he was stabbed more than 30 times and shot at Darwin Recycling.
The trial continues.
Australian Associated Press
