SA court lessens restrictions on Cy Walsh, who killed Adelaide Crows father Phil Walsh while mentally ill, due to continued rehabilitation
Cy Walsh’s rehabilitation, following the killing of his Adelaide Crows coach father, has continued to progress, a court has heard – meaning he can go into the community by his mother’s side.
Police & Courts
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- The Walsh Case 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
Five years on from the death of his Adelaide Crows coach father, Cy Walsh has been allowed to move into a low-security facility – and join his mother on day trips into the community.
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court heard Walsh is experiencing ongoing success in his mental health recovery and rehabilitation, warranting the lessening of controls on his life.
In 2015, Walsh, 31, 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, 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 mental health supervision.
Under state law, that supervision can be conducted within a facility, in the community or a combination of both, depending on the needs of the person.
A year later, his counsel asked he receive limited, closely-supervised release in order to undergo treatment for MS – the court agreed in May 2018.
In March this year, the court heard Walsh had behaved “impeccably” in detention and was asked to consider further relaxing his supervision conditions.
Then, in May, it was told doctors were confident he would be ready to leave strict, supervised mental health detention, and move to a “step-down” facility, within six months.
On Tuesday, prosecutor Lucy Boord said the time had come to de-escalate the restrictions on Walsh’s movements.
She said doctors had recommended he move from the high-security James Nash House facility – where he has been held since 2015 – to the low-security Ashton House.
Since May, Walsh has spent five nights of each week at the 10-bed facility – which boasts features including a vegetable garden – but has returned to James Nash on weekends.
Ms Boord said doctors had recommended other changes as well.
“They say he need only be accompanied by one staff member when outside the facility and on visits into the community,” she said.
“That can be someone from the forensic mental health team, a non-government employee or his mother, Meredith Walsh.
“I have consulted with Mrs Walsh, and she is clearly supportive of this application, so we do not oppose this variation.”
Justice Anne Bampton ordered the variation go ahead as recommended.
