Father confided in his boss he feared his son would kill him days before his death

A man who was fatally beaten by his son confided in his employer that he feared his son would kill him days before his death.

A man who was fatally beaten by his son confided in his boss that he feared his son would “do me in” days before he was killed, a court has been told.

Police were responding to a welfare check when they found Stephen Peter O’Brien, 68, dead in his Wyndham Vale home in Melbourne’s southwest on January 10, 2023.

Victoria State Coroner John Cain found Mr O’Brien died from multiple blunt and sharp force injuries to his head that were inflicted by his son Scott between January 7 and 10 two years ago.

Scott was aged 43 at the time, had never moved out of home and had schizophrenia but had not been taking medication or receiving treatment when the incident occurred.

The coroner found there was a significant history of unreported family violence by Scott against his parents.

In the week before his death, Mr O’Brien told his employer that he needed time off work so he could take Scott to see a doctor because of his mental health issues.

Stephen O’Brien’s daughter asked police to conduct a welfare check on her father after he told a family member he did not want to go home because of his son’s mental health. Picture: NewsWire /Brendan Beckett

Mr O’Brien also told his sister that he did not want to go home because of Scott’s mental health.

Mr Cain said Scott thought his father was a federal police officer who was spying on him.

Mr O’Brien would take phone calls in the car because of Scott’s paranoia.

The court was also told Mr O’Brien would often book accommodation for himself or Scott to have a break.

Days before his death, Mr O’Brien called his boss and told him he intended to go to work on January 9 but failed to show up.

He was last sighted on CCTV leaving the Manor Lakes Shopping Centre in his car about 4.30pm on January 7.

Mr Cain found Mr O’Brien spent years attempting to manage his son’s violence to keep himself and his late wife Elizabeth safe.

He said Scott regularly tried to assault his father, and on one occasion Mr O’Brien was hospitalised with a facial fracture following an attack by his son.

The Victorian State Coroner found Stephen had previously been hospitalised with a facial fracture following an assault by his son. Picture: NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

Scott would threaten anyone who went to their house as well as verbally abuse neighbours and throw rocks at their home.

When Mr O’Brien’s wife died, his friends offered him free accommodation and work in Bendigo, but he declined the offer because of his son.

Mr Cain found Mr O’Brien was unaware support services were available to him or he never attempted to seek help and may not have realised Scott’s behaviour constituted family violence.

The coroner recommended the Victorian government find ways to recognise hidden mental health carers, such as Mr O’Brien, and their families.

He also recommended the government raise awareness about elder abuse through targeted campaigns.

“Stephen’s case, sadly, is one of several cases being investigated by the court in which an adult child with undiagnosed or untreated mental health issues has assaulted and killed an older or elderly parent,” Mr Cain said.

Scott was arrested on January 11 and charged with his father’s murder but was found not guilty by reason of mental impairment in April 2024.

Originally published as Father confided in his boss he feared his son would kill him days before his death