Gregory John William Quartermaine gets life sentence for beheading, dismembering friend in meth-fuelled rage

WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT A Great Southern man has been sentenced to life behind bars for decapitating and dismembering his friend in a meth-fuelled “explosion of violence” that rocked his tiny home town of Tambellup. Gregory John William Quartermaine, 42, butchered Wilfred Williams at a house on Garrity Street about midnight on August 4 of 2019, while other people — including children — were inside. He used a machete and knives to castrate his victim and remove the skin from his face in an orgy of violence that lasted up to 40 minutes. Mr Williams was a lifelong friend of the Quartermaine family and had been living with Quartermaine’s mother for many years. When police arrived, Quartermaine emerged from his mother’s house soaked in blood, while his 60-year-old victim lay dismembered and disembowelled in the kitchen. “I scalped that c...,” Quartermaine told police in August of 2019. “I cut his head off, and I will take yours.” Some of the children, who had been hiding in their bedrooms during the ordeal, were escorted out of the house by police. Three officers later received the Commissioner’s Medal for Excellence for their actions. One of those officers found chunks of human flesh during a search of Quartermaine’s pocket, which turned out to be a severed ear and a severed scrotum. In a chilling interview later that night, Quartermaine told homicide detectives the devil made him do it. Today, Justice Stephen Hall handed him a life sentence. He must serve a minimum of 18 years behind bars before he is eligible for parole. Quartermaine sat with his head in his hands throughout the sentencing hearing. In sentencing remarks at WA Supreme Court, Justice Hall said despite Quartermaine experiencing similar drug-induced psychotic events in 2018, the “lifelong” drug addict continued using methamphetamine. “You have a long history of substance abuse, you enjoyed the effect of the drug and couldn’t resist temptation,” Justice Hall said. “You chose to use drugs and you did so knowing the effects...you must take full responsibility for your terrible things.” Justice Hall said Quartermaine had told psychologists he “blamed his conduct on being cursed and having no control of his actions”. “You cannot avoid the fact you it was your choice to use dangerous drugs,” Justice Hall said. Growing up in Tambellup, Quartermaine was in an environment with little money where drug use was normalised, Justice Hall said. Justice Hall said there were eight factors that aggravated the offence, including the fact the murder was unprovoked, of sustained brutality, children were present, and Mr Williams was mutilated and disfigured. Before sentencing, Quartermaine’s mother, partner and sister provided character references that indicated he was normally a “caring, non-violent man” and they continued to support him. The details of the 2019 murder were revealed during a seven-day trial at the Albany Supreme Court. On the first day of the trial on November 23, Quartermaine admitted to unlawfully causing the death of Mr Williams by inflicting multiple sharp forces injuries. Defence counsel Bruno Illari was arguing that his client was under the influence of methamphetamine and cannabis at the time of the killing and the effects of those drugs impaired his ability to form intent. The State’s case was that Quartermaine’s intent to kill was established by his actions and statements immediately before the killing and by the nature of the victim’s injuries. On December 11 last year, Justice Stephen Hall delivered his verdict from the Perth Supreme Court via video-link to Albany, finding Quartermaine guilty of murder. There were tears in the courtroom as the verdict was read out. In his judgment, Justice Hall said intent was the crux of the case. He said the “extraordinary brutality” of the killing supported the conclusion that the accused was in a meth-induced psychosis, and it was unlikely he would have killed Mr Williams if he was not intoxicated. “The only issue is whether at the time of the killing he had the specific intent required for murder, that is, the intent to kill or do an injury that was likely to endanger life,” Justice Hall said in his judgment. Justice Hall said Section 28 of the Criminal Code stated unsoundness of mind did not absolve an offender of criminal responsibility if they had intentionally caused themselves to become intoxicated. Mr Williams was known to members of the family as Uncle Willy or Pop Willy. About midnight on August 4, under the influence of meth and cannabis, Quartermaine approached his mother’s house and asked to be let in. He walked into the house with a machete and started calling out for Mr Williams, who came out of his room. He then started striking him with the machete. One of the children who was in the house at the time heard him say: “I’m going to kill Pop Willy”. Another child witnesses said she heard Quartermaine say: “Mum, I have to kill Uncle Willy”. “The accused’s words and actions were clear, unequivocal and self-evidently purposeful,” Justice Hall said in his judgment in December. HOW THE TRIAL UNFOLDED DAY ONE Horrifying details of the murder are revealed for the first time. We learn the full extent of the savage attack, which included decapitation and dismemberment. DAY TWO Three children and Mr Quartermaine’s sister take the stand. One child describes the accused’s behaviour on the night of the murder as “non-human”. DAY THREE Mr Quartermaine considers changing his plea as he struggles to sit through police testimony. Justice Stephen Hall says the Supreme Court is “not like a classroom, where he can put his hand up and ask to be excused”. DAY FOUR The court is shown a chilling interview with homicide detectives conducted on the night of August 4. The accused tells detectives the “devil” made him kill Mr Williams. DAY FIVE The accused’s drug habits come under scrutiny, including use of the “zombie drug” flakka. The toxicology report from August 4 shows evidence of meth and cannabis use. DAY SIX A forensic psychologist details Mr Quartermaine’s history of drug-induced mental health episodes featuring similar reports of hallucinations and instruction from an evil entity. DAY SEVEN The trial is adjourned after the defence and prosecution give their closing statements, with the ability for the accused to form intent to commit murder at the heart of the case.