Supreme Court judge urges authorities to consider mental health reform over mentally unwell father who killed his son

A SUPREME Court justice has urged authorities to consider calls for mental health reform amid the sentencing of a father who was unwell when he tragically killed his young son.

A SUPREME Court justice has urged authorities to consider calls for mental health reform amid the sentencing of a father who was unwell when he killed his young son, Luca Janzow.

In published reasons for finding David Janzow not guilty by mental incompetence, obtained by The Advertiser on Monday, Justice John Sulan said it was important he noted issues raised in the victim impact statement of Luca’s mother, Julia Trinne, last week.

“Her victim impact statement focuses attention to the public and those in authority that persons with mental health issues, their immediate family, their friends and others who may be affected needs greater attention and understanding,” he said.

“She makes the point that although there is greater awareness of mental illness today, there is still much which needs to be done to assist people with mental illness and to assist their families.”

Ms Trinne said in her victim impact statement that mental health issues needed a greater focus within the community and she hoped her tragedy would bring about change to prevent further families from suffering like hers had.

“I trust that those who are charged with the task of dealing with mental health issues in our community will consider Ms Trinne’s plea for greater awareness and greater assistance for those in need of mental health treatment,” Justice Sulan said.

The court has found David Janzow, 38, of Stepney, killed Luca, 4, while battling psychosis arising from a depressive order.

Psychiatric reports tendered to the court revealed Janzow thought himself to be a psychopath and, when he saw traits he believed were similar in Luca, came to the irrational conclusion they both had to die.

He fatally stabbed his son before approaching officers dealing with an unrelated car accident at Athelstone in July 2014, telling them he had “injured” four-year-old Luca.

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

In her victim impact statement read to the court by a prosecutor last week, 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.

Justice Sulan said her statement was a “moving account” of how mental illness had fractured a family.

“A loving family has been fractured and the devastation caused as a result of the defendant’s mental illness has been laid bare in Ms Trinne’s statement,” he said.

“Her courage in publicity revealing her private grief must be recognised.”

Janzow was sentenced to a lifelong limiting order where he will be supervised in a mental health facility.

That order will be reviewed periodically.