The motivations of a man who abducted a child and said he wanted to eat her will be the subject of a sentencing hearing in the Supreme Court in December.
Cecil Maurice Mabb, 42, pleaded guilty to child abduction and assault in January just days after he kidnapped a five-year-old girl from a campground at Montagu, near Smithton.
In April, the Supreme Court in Burnie heard Mabb had told other inmates in Risdon prison that he had desired to eat people since he was a teenager, but that he hated those thoughts and wanted help.
At the time defence lawyer Hannah Phillips did not dispute that Mabb had said such things, but submitted to Justice Robert Pearce that he did not mean it.
Ms Phillips said her client had been advised by other inmates in the maximum-security wing of Risdon Prison to exaggerate the circumstances of his crimes so he would have greater access to psychological assistance and support.
READ MORE: How airports will look from December 15
At the time, the prosecutor told the court Mabb was aware of how his actions would affect the girl and said "she's going to be traumatised forever" and would "never recover".
It was expected the matter would be resolved and Mabb would be sentenced earlier this year, but in September the court was still awaiting a psychiatric assessment report.
On Monday Ms Phillips told Justice Pearce a report had now been received, but that Crown needed time to consider it.
Crown prosecutor Katie Edwards said that was true, and she and Ms Phillips agreed there was issues regarding Mabb's original plea that needed to be resolved before Justice Pearce could sentence him.
Justice Pearce said he was not aware "with particularity" what those issues were, but ventured that Mabb's "motivations" were in question, and Ms Phillips said that was correct.
Ms Edwards she anticipated she and Ms Phillips would be in a position to finalise the matter within a week.
Justice Pearce adjourned further hearing on the matter to December 2.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
- Bookmark www.examiner.com.au
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter: @examineronline
- Follow us on Instagram: @examineronline
- Follow us on Google News: The Examiner
Sandy Powell
Court and crime reporter covering the West and North-West of Tasmania for the Advocate.
Court and crime reporter covering the West and North-West of Tasmania for the Advocate.
