Jacob Hoysted: Date set for trial of issues regarding reason behind Albany aged care home victim’s murder

A worker who admitted to strangling an elderly woman at an Albany aged care home has had a date set for another hearing after he disputed what the prosecution said was his motive for the killing. Jacob Anthony Hoysted admitted to strangling Monica Stockdale at the Baptistcare Bethel aged care home in November 2022 and was due to be sentenced last month. But during that hearing, his lawyer told the WA Supreme Court the 20-year-old disputed the prosecution’s contention that he did it because he wanted to feel the thrill of killing another human being. Barrister Simon Freitag SC said his client had been told that Ms Stockdale’s health was declining and that he killed her out of mercy. He said his client also claims he acted on impulse that day. But prosecutors say he planned the murder at least before his shift. Hoysted had worked as a carer at Baptistcare Bethel for about 12 months before he killed Ms Stockdale and had a certification to work in aged care. It has previously been revealed that the 70-year-old’s death was reported to police at the time but was not believed to be suspicious until the autopsy results came back. The trial of issues hearing will be held on November 14.