Cy Walsh granted supervised day leave, over death of father and Crows coach Phil Walsh
More than a year after concerns over his wellbeing, the son of slain Crows coach Phil Walsh will make a closely-supervised return to the community.
Police & Courts
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Cy Walsh, who fatally stabbed his Adelaide Crows coach father, Phil Walsh, almost 10 years ago has been granted supervised day leave from a secure mental health facility once again.
On Friday, the Supreme Court signed orders permitting Mr Walsh to leave James Nash House during the day while accompanied.
The order represents a positive step in Mr Walsh’s ongoing treatment after a setback 13 months ago, when he was detained due to renewed concerns about his mental health.
It also marks a return to the “first stage” of the rehabilitation process in mental health cases - meaning Mr Walsh will not be able to be considered for any further relaxation of his conditions for 12 months.
On July 3, 2015, Mr Walsh, 34, stabbed his father, 55, at least 20 times in their family home while affected by undiagnosed, untreated schizophrenia.
A habitual user of hallucinogenic drugs, Mr Walsh had an oft-turbulent relationship with his father and once spoke of wanting to “rip out” the older man’s heart.
In 2016, he was found not guilty of murder due to mental incompetence and ordered to spend the rest of his life under a “limiting term” of mental health supervision.
He was held in the secure James Nash House facility but, in 2021, was permitted first day leave, then unsupervised visits into the community.
In October 2023, however, the court remanded him in detention – although no incident had occurred, doctors wished to “stablise” his mental health.
On Friday, Mr Walsh appeared in court by video link with James Nash House, sporting a shaved head and neatly-trimmed mutton chops beard.
He listened as his longtime counsel, Trish Johnson, said a number of supervision conditions had been drafted and agreed upon by all involved in the matter.
Tracey Nelson, prosecuting, said those conditions were “not opposed”.
“This was originally the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions’ application for review of Mr Walsh’s (mental health) licence,” she said.
“That review has clearly been determined... these orders are by consent.”
Justice Anne Bampton made the orders and remanded Mr Walsh in detention.
The specific details of Mr Walsh’s conditions, beyond permission for supervised and accompanied day leave, were not made public.
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