Cy Walsh – who killed Crows coach father Phil – granted unsupervised day leave from mental health facility

Cy Walsh – who killed his father, Crows coach Phil Walsh six years ago while affected by mental illness – will be able to return to the community unsupervised.

Cy Walsh – who killed his AFL coach father while affected by undiagnosed mental illness six years ago – has been given permission to return to the community unsupervised.

In another positive step for his ongoing rehabilitation, the Supreme Court on Tuesday granted Mr Walsh – who fatally stabbed Adelaide Crows coach Phil Walsh – unsupervised day leave from a mental health facility.

He will still be required to reside at the low-security site but may now make day trips for shopping, leisure or medical purposes without accompaniment by forensic mental health staff.

The court’s decision comes after several months of intensive psychological and psychiatric evaluation to determine Mr Walsh’s ability to cope in the community and any risk he may pose to the public.

It also follows consultation with Mr Walsh’s mother Meredith, who has been accompanying him on day trips out of the facility for several months.

Phil Walsh, left, and his son Cy Walsh, inset.

On July 3, 2015, Mr Walsh, 32, stabbed his father Phil Walsh, 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.

Under state law, that term can be served in a secure facility, in the community or both.

CCTV footage from Jetty Rd, Glenelg, showing Cy Walsh walking alone soon after the stabbing. Source: Supreme Court.

SPECIAL REPORT: THE WALSH FAMILY TRAGEDY

Part 1: The spiritual misfit who lost control

Part 2: A turbulent relationship between father and son

Part 3: The final 48 hours – and the spiral into psychosis

Mr Walsh began his term in the high-security James Nash House facility and, after two years there, was permitted limited, closely-supervised release to undergo MS treatment.

In 2020, he “stepped down” to a lower-security facility, called Ashton House, and was permitted to undertake supervised day trips into the community.

Those trips have been supervised by either forensic mental health staff or by Mr Walsh’s mother, Meredith.

In July, just days before the anniversary of the incident, Mr Walsh’s counsel told the court they believed their client was ready for unsupervised day leave from Ashton House.

Mr Walsh travelled the world before the incident, and was introduced to hallucinogenic drugs overseas. Source: Social media profile.

Phil Walsh with his wife, Meredith, and son Cy. Source: Facebook.

On Tuesday, Mr Walsh appeared by video link from Ashton House – he wore a dark suit, light blue shirt and blue tie.

Trish Johnson, for Mr Walsh, said she would “be only brief” in her submissions.

“This is our application for unaccompanied leave in the community, and we understand the prosecution does not oppose it being signed and carried out,” she said.

Lucy Boord, prosecuting, said that was correct.

“This is an appropriate concession to make, given the recent report of the treating psychiatrist,” she said.

Justice Anne Bampton formally made the order for unaccompanied leave, telling Mr Walsh it would come into effect once he, too, had signed it.

“Thank you,” he replied.