Alleged murderer Gregory John William Quartermaine tells psychiatrist he has used “zombie drug” flakka

Alleged murderer Gregory John William Quartermaine has admitted to using the “zombie drug” flakka as his drug habits came under further scrutiny on day five of a Supreme Court murder trial in Albany. Mr Quartermaine, 42, is alleged to have decapitated and dismembered 60-year-old family friend Wilfred Williams at a house on Garrity Street about midnight on August 4, while other people — including children — were inside. Defence counsel Bruno Illari is not contesting that his client killed Mr Williams, but is arguing he did not have the intent to commit murder because he was in a state of drug-induced psychosis. In court today, it was confirmed that Mr Quartermaine told Perth psychiatrist Dr Viki Pascu he had used flakka in the past. Flakka, or Alpha PVP, is a synthetic stimulant which has been linked to bizarre and violent behaviour by users around the world. On the opening day of the trial, Mr Quartermaine’s friend, Brendan Ugle, was quizzed about the drug. State prosecutor David Davidson said the toxicology report from August 4 showed no evidence of flakka in the accused’s system. In an interview with Dr Pascu on January 29, Mr Quartermaine admitted he could “not really remember” the sickening events that took place on August 4. He told Dr Pascu he had used meth for three or four days before the alleged murder. He claimed he would “inject $500 worth of ice, smoke 20 bongs of cannabis, use $200 worth of speed, drink two bottles of spirits and one beer every day”. Mr Davidson said the meth use was consistent with evidence brought forward by Mr Ugle on Monday — “but not to these quantities”. Justice Stephen Hall said it was an “astonishing amount” and a possible “exaggeration”. Justice Hall said the question was whether Mr Quartermaine was capable of forming “intent” in what his lawyer described as a “drug-induced psychosis”. Mr Davidson said the State had issues with some of the details in the report prepared by Dr Pascu — the defence counsel’s first and only witness — which was based on the January interview. Dr Pascu’s report also outline a previous drug-fuelled incident in which Mr Quartermaine was admitted to the Frankland Centre, an acute mental health in-patient ward at Graylands Hospital. Justice Hall is set to make a ruling on whether the report is admissible before Dr Pascu gives her evidence. The trial was adjourned about noon today. It is set to continue on Monday.