Psychiatric reports: Man accused of killing flatmate legally insane

Photo / File

An Auckland man accused of killing his flatmate was legally insane at the time, according to two psychiatric reports.

Geoffrey Tampin appeared briefly at the High Court at Auckland this morning.

Police allege the 38-year-old murdered his flatmate Dean Clark, 36, on June 26 last year. Tampin had been living in the same house as Mr Clark for only a week before the alleged murder.

Justice Timothy Brewer told Tampin that psychiatric reports obtained by Tampin's lawyer and the Crown found that he was legally insane at the time of the murder.

However, before Tampin can be declared legally insane, the mental health professionals will have to appear before a High Court judge to answer questions about their reports.

"If the judge accepts the evidence - which is very likely - then you will be permitted to offer a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity that plea can be accepted by the court and you will be dealt with by mental health legislation rather than criminal," Justice Brewer said.

The hearing will take place in October and Tampin was remanded in custody.