Stephen Lawrence Anderson

Timeline

• 1995 — Stephen Lawrence Anderson was diagnosed with schizophrenic.
• 8 February 1997 — Stephen Lawrence Anderson went berserk during a family reunion at a ski lodge in Raurimu, killing six people and wounding five others; he was arrested after being found naked and unarmed close to the ski lodge.
• 10 February 1997 — Stephen Anderson was charged with six counts of murder and eight counts of attempted murder in relation to the shotgun massacre in Hamilton District Court early today; he was remanded in custody until 26 February for psychiatric assessment.
• 11 December 1997 — A jury found Stephen Anderson not guilty of six murders and four attempted murders by reason of insanity; he was ordered confined to a high-security mental health institution and held there until doctors determined he was fit to be released.
• 8 February 1998 — A memorial service was held in Raurimu.

Background

Stephen Lawrence Anderson was a 24-year-old native of Wellington, New Zealand, who was described as a former psychiatric patient. He went berserk during a family reunion in a small ski resort. He had a history of mental illness since being diagnosed in 1995 as schizophrenic, and he was prescribed drugs for that condition. During the trial, his family doubted that he had been taking his prescribed drugs as regularly as prescribed.

During the time leading up to the shooting, his mother Helen Anderson said that she and her husband noticed a change in Stephen a few days before the shooting. He had become quieter and more withdrawn. Two days before the shooting, Helen Anderson said she saw her son holding a gun. When she asked what he was doing, he told her: "they" were coming after him.

During the trial, the accused laughed loudly as the prosecution played a video showing Anderson being interviewed. It was one of the only times that Anderson showed any emotion whatsoever.

The offence

Stephen Lawrence Anderson went on a deadly shooting spree at the ski lodge in Raurimu. Eighteen members of the Wellington family gathered at the ski lodge for a reunion. After a family argument, Stephen picked up his shotgun and started blasting away. Police said he also shot at several passers-by. The suspect was tracked down by authorities through surrounding rugged terrain using helicopters and planes.

During the offence, witnesses said that family and friends had gathered for breakfast when Anderson appeared in the room. His mother Helen Anderson later stated in the Hamilton court trial that her son mentioned that he had just had sex with a cat and dog. A couple of minutes later he came back holding a shotgun. His father got up from the table and asked what he was doing and tried to take the gun from him.

Mrs Anderson said the accused said: "You're the devil incarnate."

He then shot his father with a single-barreled shotgun. Pandemonium broke out as the gunman began a shooting spree, killing and wounding several people in and around the lodge before going to another property where a local resident, Hendrick Van de Wetering, was gunned down trying to raise the alarm by flagging down a passing truck.

Victims and casualties

By the end of the day on 8 February 1997, six people were dead and five people were wounded through the actions of Stephen Lawrence Anderson.

The dead included:

• Neville Robin Anderson, 60
• Anthony Gordon McCarty, 63
• John Frederick Mathews, 28
• Stephen Mark Hansen, 38
• Andrea Joy Brander, 52
• Hendrick Dirk Van de Wetering, 51

The wounded included five people.

Investigation

After the rampage began, Anderson emerged from dense forest about 600 feet from the killing scene, two hours after his rampage began. He surrendered to police commandos within an hour, naked and unarmed close to the ski lodge where many of the victims were blasted to death.

Gunman kills 6 in New Zealand The Arizona Republic February 8, 1987 described:

• A man armed with a shotgun stalked a New Zealand ski village for an hour, killing six people and seriously wounding five others.
• Police arrested a suspect after chasing him through rugged forest with backup from planes and helicopters.
• The man was unarmed and naked when he broke cover and was taken into custody.
• Rescue helicopter pilot Guy Beange said: the man was taken into custody.

Gun blasts rain terror on village Shooter kills 6 in New Zealand The Arizona Republic February 8, 1987 included the passage that:

• "The man was unarmed and naked when he broke cover and was taken into custody," rescue helicopter pilot Guy Beange said.

Gunman kills 6 in New Zealand Philadelphia Daily News February 10, 1997 described:

• A man embroiled in a domestic dispute opened fire on his relatives and several passers-by at a ski resort Saturday, killing six people and wounding five.
• The man, described by residents of the village of Raurimu Spiral as a former psychiatric patient, was naked and unarmed when police commandos seized him.

Arrest

Stephen was later arrested by police, stark naked in bush near the lodge.

Trial

A plea of not guilty by reason of insanity was entered.

During the trial, Stephen Anderson’s counsel, Stuart Grieve, said that the sole defence was that Anderson was insane at all times.

Anderson's counsel, Stuart Grieve, said that the sole defence was that Anderson was insane at all times.

Helen Anderson stated in the Hamilton court trial that her son mentioned that he had just had sex with a cat and dog.

During the trial, Mrs McCarty said Helen Anderson apologised for her son being at the lodge. Mrs McCarty said the first thing Helen said to them when they arrived was:

"I'm sorry we had to bring Stephen. He's been such a problem to us the last few days. We couldn't leave him at home to feed the cat'."

When Mrs McCarty was asked by crown prosecutor Quentin Almao if she and her husband would have gone to the ski lodge if they knew Stephen was to be there, she replied:

"I would not have."

Another witness, Michelle Churton, also of Wellington, hid in undergrowth for two hours. She told the court:

"There appeared to be many shots, I didn't count them. There was a lot of screaming,"

She did not come out from hiding even when police had arrived because she was so scared and did not know the whereabouts of Anderson.

Rodney and his mother bundled his two small children in a car, while Kim and Hendrick Van de Wetering went up to the main road for help. Rodney grabbed a rifle and told Anderson to "back off". The text states:

But Anderson dropped to the ground and fired.

Wanganui truck driver Gregory Wood told the court that Kim and Hendrick Van de Wetering stopped him for help, but his radio would not work. He said that he saw Anderson jogging beside his truck reloading his shotgun, and he heard a shot as he drove off. When he looked in his rear vision mirror he saw Hendrick lying on his back on the road with his hands up as if to protect himself as Anderson stood over him pointing his gun. When Mr Woods looked back again he saw Anderson disappearing into bush beside the road.

Raymond and Evelyn Spencer, who were also staying at the Anderson's lodge, told the court how they pretended to be dead while Anderson walked around near the lodge with his shotgun.

At his trial, Anderson was found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity. He was detained in hospital indefinitely as a special patient.

Sentencing

After being found not guilty by reason of insanity, Stephen Anderson was ordered confined to a high-security mental health institution and held there until doctors determined he was fit to be released.

Appeals

No appeals were described.

Outcome

Stephen Lawrence Anderson was found innocent of six murders and four attempted murders by reason of insanity.

Other details

Names and relationships mentioned

• Stephen Lawrence Anderson was identified as of Wellington, New Zealand.
• The text referred to the Anderson family and a family reunion in Raurimu.
• Stephen Anderson’s mother was Helen Anderson.
• Stephen Anderson’s father was mentioned as being shot by Anderson during breakfast.
• The dead included Neville Robin Anderson, Anthony Gordon McCarty, John Frederick Mathews, Stephen Mark Hansen, Andrea Joy Brander, and Hendrick Dirk Van de Wetering (also referred to as Hendrick Van de Wetering).
• Hendrick and Helena Van de Wetering were described as neighbours, with their son Rodney, his wife Kim, and children staying with them.
• Raymond and Evelyn Spencer were also staying at the Anderson's lodge.
• Crown prosecutor Quentin Almao asked questions during trial.

Firearms and charges stated

On February 12, he was charged with five additional counts of murder, eight counts of attempted murder, and unlawful possession of a 12-gauge shotgun when his firearms licence had been revoked.

Defence and mental health

• Anderson had a history of mental illness since being diagnosed in 1995 as schizophrenic.
• The sole defence was that Anderson was insane at all times.
• The suspect was described by local residents as a former psychiatric patient.

Memorial service

A memorial service was held in Raurimu on the 8th of February 1998, described as a year to the day since Anderson shot his father and five other people.