LynnMall attacker's stalking, fixation with lawyer detailed in court

What happens when a lawyer-client relationship turns to stalking?

The coroner has heard details of that shift as part of the inquest into the death of LynnMall attacker Ahamed Samsudeen.

Samsudeen stabbed six people in 2021 during an attack at a West Auckland supermarket, before being shot dead by police.

A coronial inquest into his death is underway, part of which will look at his path to violent extremism, and the time leading up to the attack.

Samsudeen's attitude towards women will also be scrutinised as well as whether this could have indicated a risk he would harm others.

Coroner Marcus Elliott had previously said there was evidence in the time after his 2021 release from prison, and leading up to the attack, Samsudeen acted inappropriately towards a police officer and his lawyer.

"There is evidence that he became fixated, that he communicated inappropriately, refusing to desist when asked, and that he engaged in stalking and harassment, all of which resulted in much distress."

Forensic psychiatrist Dr Ian Goodwin was contacted by Samsudeen's lawyer, who cannot be named, out of the blue in 2021.

"[His Lawyer] explained to me briefly the situation that was occurring between her and Mr. Samsudeen, and I asked her then to forward a number of texts and other communications between the two of them," Goodwin said.

The lawyer sent Goodwin the communication, and he quickly saw something was wrong.

"Literally within a few minutes I was aware that this was a very serious situation for [the lawyer]," he said.

"The communications indicated to me that Mr. Samsudeen was stalking [her], and more concerningly, was attempting to meet with her alone, quite deliberately alone, which is a real red flag in these situations."

He encouraged Samsudeen's lawyer not to meet with him under any circumstances.

Samsudeen was ordered not to associate with his lawyer the day before his attack.

Goodwin was asked if that would have crystallised Samsudeen's rage.

"Yes, that's not unusual," he said.

"That's sort of drifting a little beyond just the stalking into his personality structure and how he may have felt about women or other things going on in the world.

"But in general, it's fair to say that when things like non-association orders are made or there is some sort of police intervention, that it does often make the stalker quite angry."

Stalkers may experience a sense of betrayal by the person they're stalking, which again could add to their anger, Goodwin said.

He told the court Samsudeen's stalking behaviour and the attack that occurred on 3 September 2021 could not be separated.

"It's very important in an incident like this, from a forensic perspective, to try and figure out why it happened when it did," he said.

"And I suspect that Mr. Samsudeen was feeling frustrated, angry, perhaps betrayed with the non-association order, but he was certainly being thwarted."

"He couldn't do a lot, and I think he perhaps may have reached the decision to undertake an act that might have resulted in his own death."

Coroner speaks to Lawyer

Samsudeen's lawyer was present in court to hear Goodwin's evidence.

Coroner Marcus Elliott spoke directly to her.

"You and indeed a number of other lawyers played the very important role of providing legal representation to someone who needed legal assistance, and of course that's a difficult role to perform at the best of times," he said.

"Mr Samsudeen's actions in that context must have been profoundly distressing and extremely difficult to navigate professionally and personally."

Coroner Elliott said the lawyer had made important and meaningful contributions to the inquest.

"I recognize that must have taken a great deal of courage."

The inquest continues.