Alien-hunter loses insanity claim appeal

An Australian man who allegedly robbed a taxi driver at knife-point claiming he was hunting aliens has again failed to convince a court he was of unsound mind at the time.

Lawyers for the man took his case to the Queensland Mental Health Court in September last year, arguing there was strong evidence that proved he had a defence of "unsoundness of mind".

Justice Anthe Philippides, however, rejected his bid to be sentenced in the Mental Health Court after a number of assisting psychiatrists failed to reach the same conclusion.

The man – a diagnosed schizophrenic – appealed this decision in the Queensland Court of Appeal earlier this month.

However, this appeal was dismissed today, with the three Court of Appeal judges agreeing the man's behaviour may have been affected by drugs.

The man will now face the Brisbane District Court at a later date for charges of armed robbery with actual violence and driving without a licence.

It will be alleged he robbed the taxi driver while high on speed, and hunting aliens which he believed were coming to earth that night.