Gold coast murder case questions how the mentally ill are cared for in the community

Apr 1 2008

The case of a 36-year-old mentally ill man who allegedly murdered an elderly woman in a retirement village has prompted questions regarding appropriate accommodation for the mentally ill in the community.

Maurizo Perini, the 36-year-old man charged with murdering 77-year-old Carmel Wuth, was reportedly placed in the Trinity Gardens Retirement Units in Nerang Street, Southport, with the support of the Schizophrenia Fellowship; Queensland Health were apparently not involved.

It appears that Mr Perini had been assessed by at least four consultant psychiatrists associated with Queensland Health since July 25, 2007, when he was referred to them by the retirement hostel; none of them had apparently found him to have a psychotic disorder.

Police had reportedly been called to Trinity Gardens on three occasions over the last two weeks to deal with incidents involving Perini and he had been assessed by Queensland Health's Homeless Help Outreach Team because of his behaviour.

Health Minister Stephen Roberston has admitted that Perini had placed knives under the doors of his alleged victim and another woman at the Southport hostel last week.

Mr Perini has been described as a voluntary patient of the mental health service and had apparently been taking his medication.

Ms Wuth who had been stabbed in the neck and repeatedly hit about the face and head, was found lying on the floor of her blood-splattered room early on Sunday morning.

Questions are now being asked about how a young mentally ill patient came to be placed in a community with much older, frail and vulnerable people, and why he was not moved when it was clear he was a threat.

Dr. Philip Morris from the Gold Coast Institute of Mental Health, says it is highly unlikely that staff at a hostel-type accommodation such as Trinity Gardens would have mental health training.

Dr. Morris says mental health accommodation which can provide 24/7 care and rehabilitation and recovery services was urgently needed on the Gold Coast.

Experts say better supervision and more appropriate accommodation for the mentally ill should be a priority for the Queensland Government.