Sentencing delayed of 20yo aged care worker following 70yo’s murder

Western Australia's Supreme Court judge will be asked to decide whether the murder of a resident at an aged care facility in Albany was a "thrill kill" or a "mercy killing".

Jacob Anthony Hoystead murdered 70-year-old resident Monica Mary Stockdale in November last year at Baptistcare Bethel facility in Yakamia.

He was arrested a month later when a post-mortem examination revealed Ms Stockdale died from strangulation.

Mr Hoystead pleaded guilty in May of this year to murdering the resident under his care.

He was due to be sentenced last Tuesday; however, lawyers representing the state and Mr Hoystead could not agree on why he had killed her and whether it was premeditated.

Prosecutor James Mactaggart said the state planned to allege that Hoystead had an "interest in murders" and "wanted to find out what it was like to kill someone".

The state also wanted to allege that Hoystead formed the intention "to commit murder either before the date of the offence or prior to his arrival at work" on the day of the offence.

"It is alleged there are aspects of the offence that show a good deal of planning, before, during and after," Mr Mactaggart said.

However, Mr Hoystead's lawyers said those issues were disputed by their client.

Defence barrister Simon Freitag SC said Mr Hoystead "erroneously" believed ending Ms Stockdale's life was ending her suffering and deterioration.

Mr Freitag SC maintained Hoystead's murder was "impulsive" and not planned – "a mercy-type killing".

The court heard the judge's findings on the issues "could materially affect" his assessment of the murder and, therefore, Mr Hoystead's sentence.

Mr Hoystead will return to court this week, where his interviews with police will be played before a trial of evidence, which would be heard and determined by a judge sitting without a jury.

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