The trial of a man accused of murdering four people during a rampage through in Darwin in 2019 is expected to resume after a three-day delay.

October 17, 2021

The trial of a love-sick man accused of murdering four people during a shooting spree across Darwin is set to resume after a three-day delay.

Benjamin Glenn Hoffmann, 47, has pleaded not guilty to four counts of murder in less than an hour at four locations on June 4, 2019.

The Crown says Hoffmann was searching for his ex-girlfriend, Kelly Collins, and a man she said she loved, Alex Deligiannis, when the killings happened.

Hoffmann and Ms Collins met in a drug rehab centre, where they enjoyed each other’s company.

After they left the program, the pair made plans to move in together but two weeks before the shootings, Ms Collins sent Hoffmann a text message saying she was in love with Mr Deligiannis.

“Hoffy, I love Alex,” she wrote on May 20.

Hoffmann initially responded with a series of humorous texts but in the days after, his demeanour changed and he repeatedly told workmates he was going to “blow (Alex’s) head off”.

Prosecutor Lloyd Babb SC says Hoffmann’s first victim, Hassan Baydoun, was fatally shot four times at the Palms Motel in central Darwin.

Forensic pathologist Marianne Tiemensma said the first two shots hit the 33-year-old in the right arm and the third in his chest.

The final shot hit Mr Baydoun in his head from close range while he was seated in his shower.

Investigators found Mr Baydoun’s dead body slumped on the floor in the shower cubicle with a frypan in his lap.

“I got the impression he was most likely trying to defend himself with the frying pan,” Dr Tiemensma said of her observations at the crime scene shortly after Mr Baydoun was killed.

Hoffman then allegedly shot Nigel Hellings through the front door at the 75-year-old’s apartment block about 800m away.

Michael Sisois, 57, was the next man to die after he was shot in the head in the car park at the nearby Buff Cluff bar and restaurant.

Hoffmann allegedly sent Mr Sisois a text the night before he died demanding that 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.

Hoffmann is also accused of murdering Rob Courtney, 52, at an industrial yard at Darwin Recycling about 2.5km away.

He was found with 69 injuries, including 36 stabbing and slicing wounds, multiple blunt force injuries and a gunshot wound.

The court has heard Mr Deligiannis had previously visited three of the locations regularly.

The trial will resume on Monday following a three-day delay to attend to matters not involving the jury.