A former Melbourne private school student who killed a homeless man believed he was fighting a battle against werewolves and spoke of injecting printer ink to make himself immortal, a court has heard.
Easton George Woodhead, 19, repeatedly stabbed Morgan Wayne "Mousey" Perry as he lay on his mattress with a group of homeless people living on the banks of Melbourne's Yarra River.
Prosecutor Michele Williams SC said Woodhead believed someone from the group stole his motorbike and took a combat knife to them in the early hours of January 4.
Before attacking Mr Perry, Woodhead stood on a milk crate to address the group, telling them he had discovered his father was a werewolf, Ms Williams told the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday.
Friends reported Woodhead abusing marijuana and behaving erratically throughout 2013, after completing his VCE studies at Melbourne Grammar in 2012.
One friend, Matthew Caldwell, said Woodhead began ranting about bizarre topics, including vampires and werewolves, and carrying around a bulletproof vest.
Mr Caldwell said Woodhead spoke of being recruited by the Australian Special Air Service (SAS) for the "special abilities" he possessed.
"Special abilities he had that others didn't," Mr Caldwell told the court.
He also believed he was in an ongoing battle with werewolves and vampires and feared they were following him, Mr Caldwell said.
"It was a battle between him and the werewolves and vampires," he said.
Woodhead could become manic, talking for hours at a time and also discussed the possibility of injecting ink from printer cartridges into his veins to make himself immortal, according to Mr Caldwell.
Woodhead's barrister Michael Tovey QC said there was no dispute that Woodhead stabbed and killed Mr Perry, but his state of mind at the time of the incident would be at issue.
"There will be focus on the bizarre and delusional behaviour of Easton Woodhead in the days and months leading up to the stabbing," he said.
The defence will also explore whether Woodhead was suffering from psychotic conditions.
Woodhead is charged with the murder of Mr Perry, who died in hospital shortly after the attack from multiple stab wounds.
Woodhead's committal hearing continues.
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