Punk Musician Jailed For 12 Years

As he has already served time, the 29-year-old will be eligible for parole February 2020. The two had shared an apartment some years before the killing. Navin, a schizophrenic, was convinced Sofer-Schreiber was turning people in Canberra’s tight-knit punk circle against him and also hired a hitman to kill members of his family.

As a result, he initiated a visit to Sofer-Schreiber’s apartment to kill him. Navin in November did not deny killing the promoter, but pleaded not guilty by way of mental impairment. A jury found him guilty of manslaughter with diminished responsibility. Justice Burns, during the sentencing, described Navin’s actions as premeditated. “Were it not for mental illness you undoubtedly would have been convicted of murder,” he said. “There was no rational reason for you to kill him.”

Sofer-Schreiber’s family called the 12-year sentence “inadequate” as he was a “gentle soul who would not have been able to defend himself.” Since his death, the Australian punk scene has held the Gingerfest Music Festival, named after Sofer-Schreiber’s nickname, “Ginger Ninja” on account of his bright red hair.