Martin Bryant

Martin Bryant

Australian serial killer
Date of Birth: 07.05.1967
Country: Australia

Biography of Martin Bryant

Martin Bryant was an Australian serial killer who was born in 1967 in Tasmania, Australia. From an early age, it was clear that Martin was not a typical child - he displayed some signs of autism, struggled in school, and had overall mental instability. He first saw a psychiatrist at the age of 6 due to academic difficulties. Later, he was excluded from regular classes, and teachers described him as an "aggressive, destructive child who kicked, spat, and urinated on other children." It is also known that Bryant enjoyed mistreating animals from a young age. He eventually returned to school and managed to graduate with an IQ score of 66. After finishing school, Martin took advantage of his intellectual disability and received a pension instead of working.

Martin Bryant

In 1987, at the age of 19, Martin took on a job working for an eccentric elderly lady named Helen Mary Elizabeth Harvey. In her home, which was in a state of disrepair and filled with numerous dogs, Martin became not only a helper but also her lover. This peculiar couple spent money recklessly without considering the impression it made on others. They eventually moved to Copping, Tasmania, where Helen purchased a house. Neighbors later recalled seeing their strange new neighbor shooting tourists with an air pistol and targeting dogs in the evenings.

On October 20, 1992, Helen and Martin were involved in a serious car accident. Helen, who was driving, died in the accident, while Martin, though badly injured, survived. He also inherited half a million dollars from Helen. With no financial worries, Martin began traveling extensively, taking about 30 trips around the world in three years. After Helen's death, Martin's father Maurice moved to Copping to keep an eye on him.

On August 16, 1993, Maurice's body was found in a local lake with a rope around his neck, and a suicide note was discovered in his car. Many were alarmed by Martin's seemingly unaffected and cheerful demeanor following his father's death. There were suspicions that it was not a suicide, but no evidence supported this theory. Martin Bryant inherited an additional $250,000 after his father's death. The deaths of his loved ones took a toll on Martin's mental health, and he sought solace in his travels. He particularly enjoyed long flights, much to the discomfort of his fellow passengers, who had no choice but to listen to his hours-long conversations.

On April 28, 1996, Martin left home in his mustard-yellow Volvo with a surfboard tied to the roof and headed towards Port Arthur. Along the way, he stopped at the Seascape guesthouse and killed the elderly owners, David and Sally Martin, as a form of "revenge" for his father's failed attempt to purchase the property. Around 1:00 PM, Martin arrived at the ruins of the 19th-century Port Arthur penitentiary, where hundreds of visitors were present. After paying the entrance fee, he parked near the cafe called "The Broad Arrow" and took a seat outside. At approximately 1:30 PM, he entered the cafe, pulled out a semi-automatic AR15 rifle with an optical sight from his sports bag, and started firing. He fired approximately 30 shots from the hip, killing 20 people and injuring 12. Martin then proceeded to the parking lot, where he shot the driver of a tourist bus and several others. However, this was not the end of the terrible day. Martin continued to kill several more people, including a woman with children, and hijacked a car by forcing the passengers and driver out. He then returned to the Seascape guesthouse, killed the owners a second time, and took a hostage.

He was besieged for 16 hours, with over 200 police officers involved in the operation. During futile negotiations, Bryant killed the hostage. The following morning, on April 29, at 8:25 AM, he deliberately set fire to the cottage and emerged from the engulfed building. He was apprehended, taken to the Royal Hobart Hospital, and underwent several skin graft surgeries and an extended period of treatment.

In November 1996, Martin Bryant stood trial for his crimes. He never admitted guilt and faced more than 72 charges, including 35 counts of intentional murder. These 35 murders were the result of the horrific events in Port Arthur. Apart from mental disability, no other significant pathologies were identified in Martin. He was sentenced to 35 life terms without the possibility of parole.

It is known that he made several unsuccessful suicide attempts while in prison, leading to his placement in a special cell. Currently, Martin Bryant is serving his life sentence at Risdon Prison in Australia. He has gained considerable weight, avoids social interactions, and refuses to open the substantial amount of correspondence addressed to him. He does not read or watch television.

After the horrifying events in Port Arthur on April 28, 1996, Tasmanian laws regarding the purchase and possession of firearms were significantly revised due to public pressure.

© BIOGRAPHS