David Janzow found not guilty of murder by reason of mental incompetence after fatally stabbing son Luca

A FATHER who fatally stabbed his young son has been found not guilty of murder by reason of mental incompetence, as the boy’s mum paid a heart-wrenching tribute to her “cheeky, creative” son and called for reform.

• SEAN FEWSTER ANALYSIS: SA court process on mental illness cases

A GRIEVING mother whose young son was fatally stabbed by his unwell father has delivered a courageous and emotional victim impact statement calling for mental health reform.

David Janzow, 38, of Stepney, was on Monday found not guilty of murdering his four-year-old son, Luca, by reason of mental incompetence.

Justice John Sulan delivered his verdict — which was not opposed by prosecutors — on the back of numerous psychiatric reports earlier tendered to the Supreme Court.

His then-wife, Julia Trinne, told the court in an articulate but heart-wrenching victim impact statement of her utter devastation over the killing of her “cheeky, creative boy with the most incredible blue eyes, infectious smile and laugh”.

“I have found that the rollercoaster of grief works in mysterious and unpredictable ways,” she said.

“I can only write about the experiences and challenges I have had to date, who knows what the future brings.

“There is one thing for certain and that is I will grieve for Luca until my last breath.”

Janzow had approached officers dealing with an unrelated car accident at Athelstone and told them he had “injured” four-year-old Luca in July 2014.

Ambulance crews treated Luca for multiple stab wounds before he was rushed to hospital but he was unable to be saved.

A “forever grieving” Ms Trinne said she kept the last picture taken of her Luca, smiling in his school uniform, by her bed to ensure he was the last thing she saw at night and the first thing she saw in the morning.

“At the young age of four, Luca had the inner wisdom of someone far beyond his years,” she said.

“A beautiful nature, kind, gentle, caring, happy, shy, tolerant, cheeky creative boy with the most incredible blue eyes, infectious smile and laugh.”

The last photo of Luca Janzow taken before he was fatally stabbed by his father. His mother keeps a copy of it by her bedside. Photo released by the Supreme Court.

Ms Trinne said she still loved Janzow, who she described as a loving, caring but unwell father, and would use her family’s tragedy to lobby for greater awareness and acceptance of the mentally unwell.

“I loved sharing my life with Dave (Janzow) and I envisaged us as always being together. Dave was a beautiful husband ... and was a loving and caring Dad,” she said.

“He had been gentle, supportive, encouraging, adventurous, entrepreneurial and motivated man.”

Ms Trinne said Janzow had been suffering from depression but she had no idea he had spiralled so deeply before her son’s death.

“Dave became acutely unwell over a short period of time with tragic consequences. There was no warning. There was not a suggestion that any of us were in danger,” she said.

She said seeing her son’s lifeless body left her “shattered, utterly and comprehensively broken ... It felt like the world had stopped”.

“I wish I knew your Dad was so unwell. I wish I had heard something that morning or that I had got out of bed just a little bit earlier than usual ... to stand in-between you and at the very least to have held you in my arms as you left this world,” she said.

Tears fell from Janzow’s face as Ms Trinne, who has since moved interstate with her surviving son, told the court how much he had been loved by her and his sons before their world was broken.

“The man I would have turned to, the man who would have held me, comforted me, in the devastating times was gone,” she said.

“The man who I would have been grieving with, the man I loved so dearly was the man who took my son’s life.

“I loved Dave right up until this terrible tragedy and in almost all other circumstances I would have been by his side no matter what.”

Ms Trinne said she hoped her family’s shocking devastation would give other families additional reason to love and treasure each other.

“My hopes are that this tragedy will help bring awareness, understanding, support and promotion to mental health and bring attention to the struggles people with mental health issues and their supporters face,” she said.

“This attention needs to translate into a greater awareness and understanding of what health professionals, families, friends and the community can do to make positive differences to people with mental illness and to people with mental health which can fluctuate from generally unwell to acutely well.”

She said she hoped her son’s death would highlight the importance of acknowledging and supporting someone with a mental illness.

“For people around them not to deny or be ashamed but rather accept it,” she said.

“Work together, talk about it and seek help when it is needed. There will be positive things that come out of this tragedy and I will make sure that happens.”

Justice Sulan ordered Janzow be supervised for life in a mental health facility. That order will be periodically reviewed.

For support and information about depression contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or SANE helpline on 1800 187 263.