The man who killed four people during a 2019 shooting spree through Darwin has sacked a second team of publicly-funded lawyers.
Benjamin Hoffmann, 48, pleaded guilty to three charges of murder and one of manslaughter part-way through what was expected to be a nine-week trial in 2021.
Four men, Hassan Baydoun, Michael Sisois, Robert Courtney and Nigel Hellings were killed during Hoffmann's rampage on June 4 2019.
Hoffmann fired the lawyers who represented him throughout the trial shortly afterwards, telling the court he had "no faithful confidence" in the high-profile team.
His latest team of lawyers, led by senior counsel Bruce Levet and Alexander Tees as well as junior lawyer Dr Patricia Peterson, were engaged earlier this year.
Justice Burns today granted their application to withdraw from the matter, after Legal Aid revoked Hoffmann's funding for a second time.
"The reason you are without legal representation is your own fault," Justice Burns told Hoffmann.
"You have chosen to dispense with the services of two sets of lawyers who have been subject to grants of legal aid."
In a letter he read to the court today, Hoffmann claimed he was "coerced" into changing his plea last year.
"Jon Tippet, Peter Maley and Catherine Voumard took advantage of me when I was vulnerable … coercing me to change my plea to guilty. I need to change my plea to not guilty for a medical sentence."
Justice John Burns told the court he saw no evidence of misconduct by any of the lawyers representing Hoffmann.
'Crisis' letters read to the court
Hoffmann presented three letters to the court during Thursday's hearing, after arguing with Justice Burns that he should be allowed to read them onto the court record, instead of allowing the judge to read them himself.
"Just get on with it," Justice Burns told the prisoner.
In the first letter, Hoffmann claimed he had been "coerced" into pleading guilty and claimed due to the "high level of medication" he is on, he wanted a re-trial.
In a second letter, addressed to NT Legal Aid director Annmarie Lumsden, Hoffmann said he was in a "crisis situation" and had "sacked" Bruce Levet and Alexander Tees, but wanted to retain Dr Peterson's services.
Justice Burns said he had not seen any evidence of misconduct to warrant terminating the legal services.
The court heard Dr Peterson, who was admitted as a lawyer less than two years ago, had a "restricted" practising certificate which required her to be supervised.
Legal Aid was granted on the condition she be supervised by Alex Tees and revoked when Hoffmann sacked the senior barrister.
Dr Peterson told the court it would be "unprofessional, unethical … and not in [Hoffmann's] best interests" for her to take on the case by herself, even once she is granted an unrestricted practising certificate.
"At the very least I would need to be carefully mentored," Dr Peterson said.
Justice Burns explained to Hoffmann he is now without legal representation through his own fault.
"Dr Peterson is, for ethical reasons, unwilling to act on your behalf unless there are other lawyers engaged," Justice Burns said.
Hoffmann will return to court on May 5 for a further directions hearing, before sentencing on May 27.
If he wants to make any further application to have his sentence delayed, Hoffmann must do so within two weeks.
