Anatomy of a mass murder: Psychological profile of Martin Bryant and the Port Arthur Massacre

Abstract

The Port Arthur Massacre represents one of the most notorious mass murder incidents wherein a single offender killed 35 persons and injured numerous others. Mass murderers predominantly either commit suicide or are slain by law enforcement officers during their attempted arrest. In an exceptional circumstance the perpetrator of the Port Arthur Massacre was apprehended alive. The following chapter provides rare insight into the circumstance of the Port Arthur Massacre as well as the characteristics of Martin Bryant by the forensic psychiatrist involved in his apprehension by police and then later charged to undertake psychiatric evaluation of Bryant for court proceedings. © 2008 Humana Press.