Overview

• Byer attacked 87-year-old Thomas O’Halloran just five days after his release, leading to an indefinite hospital detention.
• The victim, known for his charitable busking, was unarmed and riding his mobility scooter at the time of the attack.
• Medical evaluations revealed Byer suffered from paranoid schizophrenia, experiencing severe delusions and auditory hallucinations.
• The court heard Byer had a history of mental health issues and substance abuse, previously undiagnosed and untreated.
• Family and community mourn the loss of O’Halloran, remembered for his generosity and spirited public music performances.