Parents of Nicholas Chattaway, who nearly killed them while mentally ill, ask a court to release him back into their care
A COUPLE who survived being stabbed with four knives and a BBQ fork by their “frenzied” mentally ill son have told a court they want him released back into their care.
A COUPLE who survived being stabbed with four knives and a BBQ fork by their “frenzied” mentally ill son have told a court they want him released back into their care.
On Monday, Nicholas Chattaway’s parents told the Supreme Court they could better care for their son’s physical and mental ailments than staff of a secure mental health facility.
Through counsel, the couple – whose names were not given in court – said they would provide a “more rigorous regime” for Chattaway’s rehabilitation than a custodial setting.
Prosecutor Lucy Boord told the court that “unsurprising” attitude was born of parental love, not the reality of the “frenzied” attack that nearly claimed their lives.
“They refused to sign the release of their medical records, they refused to provide samples of DNA, and that’s all understood by the DPP – the accused is their son,” she said.
“(Instead), they provided statements that attempt to contradict everything that eyewitnesses said occurred on that night (and say) that Nicholas has been stable and is greatly improved.
“The reason he’s now in state care is because he’s dangerous, and there’s no suggestion whatsoever by any expert that he’s ready for any type of release.”
Chattaway, 23, was found not guilty of attempting to murder his parents because he was mental incompetent due to schizophrenia.
During the October 2014 attack, he was affected by the delusional belief “ten small men” had spoken to him from the roof of the family’s Torrens Park home.
Chattaway would later reveal, to doctors, the “small men” had told him his parents were aliens that intended to torture and murder him.
His parent suffered multiple stab wounds, and police were forced to taser Chattaway 15 times when they arrived at the scene.
On Monday, Craig Caldicott, for Chattaway, praised his client’s “incredibly supportive” parents, saying they were “extremely anxious on behalf” of their son.
He urged the court to impose a lenient limiting term – a period in mental health care equal to the prison term an unaffected person would receive – given his youth.
Tony Kerin, for Chattaway’s parents, said they believed attempted murder was the wrong charge and had insisted their injuries were not life-threatening.
“They are of the view they would be able to provide a more rigorous treatment regime than if he were in custody or detention,” he said.
“What they want for their son, out of all of this, is a normal, healthy life.”
Ms Boord said the incident was “at the higher end of the range of seriousness” for incidents of attempted murder.
She said that, combined with Chattaway’s lack of rehabilitative progress in custody, warranted a significant limiting term.
Justice Anne Bampton will impose Chattaway’s limiting term next week.