Ivens Buffett
MLA
Deputy Chief Minister of Norfolk Island
In office
unknown – 19 July 2004
Lands Minister of Norfolk Island
In office
unknown – 19 July 2004
Member of the Norfolk Island Legislative Assembly
In office
unknown – 19 July 2004
Personal details
Born
Ivens François Buffett
Died19 July 2004
Norfolk Island, Australia
Political partyIndependent

Ivens François "Toon" Buffett (died 19 July 2004) was a political figure from the Australian External Territory of Norfolk Island. He was the first sitting minister of an Australian government to be assassinated.

Before his death, Buffett was serving as Lands Minister and Deputy Chief Minister of Norfolk Island. He had previously served one term as Chief Executive.

Murder

On 19 July 2004, Buffett was shot dead in his office with his own Lee-Enfield .303 rifle.[1]

Buffett's 25-year-old son, Leith, was charged with the murder of his father. Legal proceedings then found that Leith was incompetent to stand trial, because of severe mental illness. Leith has been described as believing that his father was "The Evil Prophet".[2]

Due to the inadequacy of jail cells and hospice facilities on the island, Leith Buffett was transferred to Sydney, first to Long Bay Prison's hospital, a matter which required an amendment to the Crimes Act 1999 in New South Wales.[3]

Police stressed that the Buffett case was unrelated to the 2002 death of Janelle Patton who, until Buffett's death, had been the only person in the island's recent history to be murdered there.

References

  1. ↑ "Drama takes a back seat for Norfolk poll". Sydney Morning Herald.
  2. ↑ Foschia, Liz (20 July 2004). "The World Today - Man charged with murder of Ivens Buffett". abc. Retrieved 27 January 2009.
  3. ↑ "Buffett headed to Long Bay jail hospital". smh.com.au. 21 September 2004. Retrieved 27 January 2009.
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