![\"Autumn](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/5f335a1d7fb3ce1f461c925da04a5bdf.jpeg\")
<\/p>\nA man who was high on an illegal, synthetic drug when he murdered his friend has been jailed, with a judge describing the case as “most unusual”.<\/p>\n
Mark Ludbrook stabbed Autumn Baker to death in his Hoppers Crossing house on August 3, 2023.<\/p>\n
On Thursday, Justice James Gorton sentenced Ludbrook to 19 years behind bars, ordering him to serve a minimum of 14 years before being eligible for parole.<\/p>\n
The court heard Ludbrook had been taking illegally sourced ketamine to deal with chronic pain from transverse myelitis, a rare neurological spinal cord condition that meant he used a wheelchair.<\/p>\n
Ludbrook’s drug dealer sold him a different drug known as PCE, promising it was a “new” type of ketamine.<\/p>\n
Justice Gorton said Ludbrook took a “double dose” of PCE, causing his behaviour to become erratic on the day of the murder.<\/p>\n
Victim tried to intervene when killer injured himself<\/p>\n
Ludbrook was at home with his carer Amber Davison, who was shocked and concerned by what unfolded.<\/p>\n
“You behaved like a vibrant expressive game-show host, but you were not making sense,” the judge said.<\/p>\n
Ludbrook, who could normally only walk a few steps unassisted, was able to get out of his wheelchair and pace around his property for about 90 minutes.<\/p>\n
He stripped off his clothes, thanked colours, rubbed money on himself and began talking to plants in his backyard, the court heard.<\/p>\n
When Ms Baker arrived at the property she had a cup of tea with Ms Davison.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Autumn Baker had gone with Mark Ludbrook’s carer to check on him when he stabbed her to death. (AAP)<\/p>\n
Ludbrook entered the kitchen, retrieved a steak knife and went to his bedroom.<\/p>\n
Concerned, the women followed him, and tried to intervene when Ludbrook stabbed himself twice in the abdomen.<\/p>\n
Ludbrook then turned the knife on Ms Baker, stabbing her to death.<\/p>\n
A distressed Ms Davison rang police, who arrested Ludbrook in the backyard.<\/p>\n
“You were saying letters and words that made no sense in the context of what was happening,” Justice Gorton said.<\/p>\n
Self-intoxication not an excuse for murder, judge says<\/p>\n
The judge said PCE was a relatively new drug only been seen in recent years, and that it caused some euphoria but unwanted side effects.<\/p>\n