Accused murderer Shaun Michaels Dunk released from mental health facility on day of violent attack on Julie Seed and colleague
Julie Seed’s devastated fiance has hit out at the failure of SA’s health system, as it emerged her accused killer was released into the community just hours before he allegedly attacked her.
Police & Courts
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A man who allegedly murdered an Adelaide mother in her workplace was released from a government-backed mental health facility on the morning of the killing.
It can also be revealed Shaun Michaels Dunk, who has been charged with Julie Seed’s murder, was released from hospital two days earlier despite warning police two weeks before that he feared he could hurt someone.
Dunk spent Tuesday night at the Urgent Mental Health Care Centre on Grenfell St in the Adelaide CBD before being cleared to leave just hours before he allegedly murdered Ms Seed inside her Plympton workplace.
He has also been charged with the attempted murder of Ms Seed’s colleague Susan Scardajno.
It is understood the circumstances around his release from the centre will form part of the chief psychiatrist’s investigation into the circumstances leading up to Ms Seed’s death.
According to its website, the Urgent Mental Health Care Centre is part of Head to Health, a federal and state government-funded initiative delivered by Neami National.
A Neami National spokeswoman said the organisation would not comment on Dunk’s release.
“This incident is part of an ongoing investigation by SA Police,” she said.
“Neami National are assisting police with their investigation and will assist in any Inquiry organised by the Chief Psychiatrist.”
A heartbroken Chris Smith on Thursday paid tribute to his fiance, who he remembered as a “beautiful, caring and heartwarming soul”.
Mr Smith told 7NEWS his fiance “lit up a room wherever she went”.
“We are all devastated and distraught by the actions of someone that the health system has obviously failed,” he said.
“Forever in our hearts.
“RIP Julez.
“Love you forever, Chris and your beautiful girls.”
Sources told The Advertiser police detained Dunk, 30, under the Mental Health Act on December 5 after he presented at a city police station stating he was experiencing hallucinations of people threatening to kill him.
Sources also said Dunk only presented to police after staff at the Royal Adelaide Hospital “took too long” to treat him and he became paranoid.
It is understood police had taken him to the Royal Adelaide Hospital several times in the weeks before he was detained but he was released each time.
Dunk appeared via video link in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Thursday still wearing the black T-shirt and beige shorts he was arrested in.
His lawyer said there would be an application made for a mental health assessment.
Dunk did not apply for bail and was remanded in custody to face court in March.
The revelations come as police claim SA Health is releasing potentially violent and unstable patients “daily”, despite warnings from officers they must be detained, in what they have labelled an “extreme risk to society”.
Several serving and former police officers have told The Advertiser people who should remain under watch are being released daily despite their warnings.
One officer described Dunk’s release as “an absolute failure of the system”.
“Why was he free?” they said.
“How did the system allow this to happen?”
The officer said police were frustrated because they were unable to do anything to stop SA Health from releasing potentially dangerous offenders.
“You’re supposed to be working for common good and yet your hands are tied,” the officer said.
“Some people can be returned to the community but there’s an exceptional amount of people that should not.
“It’s an extreme risk to society.”
“It’s just a really poor state of affairs,” another officer said.
Police Association of South Australia president Mark Carroll said it was “pretty clear that far too much police time is spent dealing with the mentally ill”.
“What I do know for certain is the extreme level of police frustration when it comes to dealing with those suffering mental illness – and interacting with the SA health system,” Mr Carroll said.
“This is a fact to which all our frontline members can attest, without fear of contradiction.”
A retired long-serving officer said SA Health released potentially dangerous people “daily”.
“It’s a never ending cycle,” they said.
“It happens daily.”
They said people known to police who should be detained under the Mental Health Act were released “two or three times” during any given shift.
“You just fight this losing battle every day because doctors don’t want to be the ones who detain them,” they said.
“Nine times out of 10 doctors won’t detain them.
“It’s left up to the coppers.”
Another retired long-serving officer said they had dealt with similar situations where SA Health had released mentally unwell people “dozens of times”.
“They do it all the time,” they said.
“It’s massive.
“We’re wasting our policing time because Health don’t want to deal with it.
“Police officers are supposed to be there to prevent crime.
“We’re not supposed to be mopping up SA Health or ambos’ work.”
Police Minister Joe Szakacs said an independent review, which will be conducted separately to any police investigation, would examine the circumstances around Dunk’s release from hospital.
Mr Szakacs said co-operation between government agencies was “well-established” and “well-evolved”.
In a statement on Thursday night, Chief Psychiatrist Dr John Brayley said a review “into all issues concerning this case, including any advice provided to clinicians, will be considered as part of the Office of the Chief Psychiatrist review”.
Dr Brayley said Western Australian Mental Health Commission’s chief medical officer of mental health Dr Sophie Davison would lead the review.
SA Health would not comment specifically comment on police concerns.
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