Emotional scenes: Family of slain paramedic Steven Tager cry out in court as man admits to fatal McDonald’s stabbing

Emotional scenes played out at the trial into the death of paramedic and young father Steven Tager, with disturbing details of the murder laid out in court.

Mr Tager was stabbed 55 times during a lunch break outside a McDonald’s in Campbelltown, southwest Sydney, on April 14, 2023.

Jordan James Fineanganofo, 23, admitted stabbing the 29-year-old to death but pleaded not guilty to murder due to mental impairment in the NSW Supreme Court on Monday.

Pained screams were heard from family members as the court was told Fineanganofo approached Mr Tager and began stabbing him without saying a word.

‘What are you doing? Stop stabbing me, buddy,” Mr. Tager told him.

At one point during the nearly four-minute attack, Fineanganofo told Mr Tager: “Say you’re sorry to me.”

“Sorry buddy, whatever you think, I did,” replied a badly wounded but still conscious Mr. Tager.

Fineanganofo lowered his head and covered his face as details of the attack were read to the court.

Outlining the evidence, Crown prosecutor Ken McKay said Mr Tager was unable to escape because he was pinned between the back of the ambulance and his attacker.

Despite attempts by several members of the public to help, Fineanganofo continued to strike Mr Tager even after the paramedic fell to the ground.

Passerby James Arthur ran over to try to help, punching Fineanganofo and screaming for him to stop.

“You’re going to kill him,” Arthur said, the court was told.

“Damn it, leave him alone.”

In response to calls from another witness, Fineanganofo was reported to have either said, “I’m going to jail anyway, I might as well kill him,” or, “I have to kill him because I’m going to have to go to jail.”

Fineanganofo also pleaded not guilty on mental health grounds to a number of related charges in alleged incidents in nearby suburbs leading up to Mr Tager’s murder.

These included allegations of threatening several people with a knife and assaulting at least one person.

Fineanganofo’s lawyer A.J. Karim said the defense’s position is largely identical to the prosecution’s, including that the physical acts of the crime were committed.

Both the prosecution and defense brought in psychiatrists, who agreed that Fineanganofo could argue that he knew what he was doing but did not know it was wrong.

Forensic psychiatrist Kerry Eagle, referred by the prosecution, determined that Finanganofo had a mental health disorder at the time of the offence, and was exhibiting signs and symptoms of a psychotic illness consistent with relapse of schizophrenia.

Mr McKay told the court Fineanganofo was charged with assaulting a neighbor in 2021, but rather than face prosecution he was forced into treatment for mental health problems.

Hospital records stated that at the time, Fineanganofo had been isolating himself in his family home for one year with minimal interaction with others, becoming increasingly paranoid about other people, including his family.

His mother reported that he was experiencing auditory hallucinations and that she found a knife hidden in his room.

“The family feared for their safety,” the recording quotes Mr. Mackay as saying.

The case was adjourned for a decision on mental health sentencing, which Judge David Davis will hand down on Friday.

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