Barry Gray death: Coroners Court holds inquest into fatal stabbing of Rye father of four

A killer who’d harassed a father-of-four for smokes had been out of prison for just two weeks before his wild stabbing frenzy.

A psychotic killer who stabbed a neighbour more than 30 times after a dispute about cigarettes had been released from prison just a fortnight earlier.

Father-of-four Barry Gray, 72, was found dead inside his Rye house having suffered stab wounds to his neck, upper body, arms and hands.

John Woodruff, who had been living at his parent’s holiday house, was charged with the retired carpenter’s murder but found not guilty on grounds of mental impairment.

He suffered schizophrenia and psychotic episodes.

Mr Woodruff had been released from prison on a community corrections order over earlier incidents but the Coroners Court on Wednesday heard the officer who prepared his pre-sentence report had no idea of his psychosis on the inside.

He’d been at one stage certified, headbutted walls, heard voices and was deemed at risk of self harm.

Cigarettes and valium had helped right his mental state.

Corrections Victoria community operations director Jenny Roberts told the court Mr Woodruff’s case manager didn’t have access to a Forensicare psychiatric report when recommending him for the community corrections order because it was yet to be written and it wasn’t practice to wait.

Such documented evidence of a mental health diagnosis would have been a factor in whether he was deemed eligible for a community corrections order and had capacity to comply, she told the court.

Instead the case manager relied heavily on disclosures from Mr Woodruff, who said he’d been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder as a child.

He was deemed at moderate risk of reoffending with referral to anger management and drug counselling envisaged.

The Coroners Court is holding an inquest into the death of Rye man Barry Gray, aged 72.

Mr Woodruff — now serving a 25-year custodial supervision order at Thomas Embling Hospital — told police he was on a mission from God when he killed his defenceless victim, who had emphysema and was oxygen dependent

He fled to Albury where police used a stun gun to subdue him and found the knife used in the killing.

Mr Gray just the day before being found dead on May 17, 2013 told a friend Mr Woodruff, then aged 22, had been harassing him for cigarettes.

He’d given Mr Woodruff $18 to buy smokes.

Mr Woodruff on April 30, 2013 at Dromana Magistrates’ Court received a community corrections order for drug possession, driving offences and assault-related charges.

He’d also contravened an earlier 18-month community corrections order.

Mr Woodruff had refused to engage with mental health professionals despite encouragement from family.

His father only on May 16, 2013 phoned his corrections case manager concerned at Mr Woodruff’s “disconnected and distant” behaviour since being released from prison.

Deputy State Coroner Caitlin English is examining communication between agencies responsible for Mr Woodruff’s incarceration, medical care and assessment for a community corrections order in a bid to prevent future deaths.

Improvements including new safeguards, more staff and greater focus on transitioning prisoners into the community had been made to the system.

The inquest continues.