Daughter of woman murdered by mental health patient backs calls for independent inquiry

RNZ News

18-06-2025

Elliot Cameron was jailed last week for life with a minimum term of 10 years' imprisonment for murdering Faye Phelps.
Photo:
Pool/ NZME / George Heard
The decision to call a non-emergency line to notify police about a mental health patient's admission that he had attacked a woman with an axe is forming part of a review into the double-killer's care.
It comes as
the daughter of Faye Phelps
backs calls for an independent inquiry into the mental health system.
The 83-year-old was murdered by elderly mental health patient Elliot Cameron in October last year.
A suppression order was lifted on Monday, allowing RNZ to report Cameron killed his brother Jeffrey Cameron in 1975. A jury found him not guilty of murder by reason of insanity and detained as a special patient.
At sentencing it was revealed that Cameron
separately told two nurses at Hillmorton Hospital
about 4pm on the day he killed Phelps that he had assaulted a woman on the corner of Mt Pleasant Road and Belleview Avenue with an axe and to call police.
Hillmorton Hospital in Christchurch.
Photo:
RNZ / Logan Church
The nurses reported his comments to police communications at 4.36pm, but this was not taken further as a result of a number of factors.
On Tuesday police confirmed the initial call to police came via the non-emergency 105 number. The address was the corner of Mount Pleasant Rd and Bellview Avenue. This was incorrect as the actual address was Belleview Terrace.
Police said given the limited information available at the time the job was not coded as serious or a grievous assault, resulting in a unit not immediately being dispatched.
At 10:43pm, another Hillmorton staffer called police and left a message to say Cameron had since told them he made up the claim of assaulting someone.
Police acknowledged the job should have been coded a serious or grievous assault, however they believed it would not have changed the outcome of the "terrible tragedy".
A review of the case had resulted in the introduction of training for Emergency Communicator and Dispatch staff to assist with the decision-making process when coding events as they occur.
Faye Phelps
Photo:
Supplied
Karen Phelps told RNZ she was astounded by the hospital's response, given Cameron's "constant threats" he would kill someone.
"I find that unbelievable. To me that is a high-alert situation that should have been taken much, much more seriously. What if Mum had been alive still and could have been saved? That wasn't the case as it turns out but the DHB didn't know that," she said.
"At the very least in Mum's case it could have prevented a member of the public who knew her discovering her body and carrying that trauma for the rest of their lives. Why did the DHB not question Elliot more that day as to where he had been and ask him for an address and contact details so they could check Mum was okay? The DHB's processes are beyond appalling."
In relation to the wrong street address supplied, Phelps said if someone had used Google Maps and looked at Mt Pleasant Rd she believes they would have found Belleview Terrace.
A Health New Zealand spokesperson told RNZ they were unable to comment specifically on the case.
"However, as general comment there are various circumstances in which we would contact police. How we do this is based on the information available to staff at the time.
"We can confirm however, that the response following notification is part of the review."
A spokesperson for Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey said it would be his expectation that the review would cover all aspects, including the call to police.
A coroner's court spokesperson has also confirmed an inquiry has been opened into Phelps' death.
Ruth Money
Photo:
RNZ / Niva Chittock
RNZ earlier revealed another case involving a man who has twice been found
not guilty of murder by reason of insanity for two separate killings
.
After that article, chief victims advisor Ruth Money
called for a Royal Commission of Inquiry into forensic mental health facilities
.
On Monday evening, Money said she stood by her recommendation.
"Now four weeks on, we learn of another patient who has warned of his intent and distress numerous times and yet he too has gone on to kill for a second time.
"The public deserves an inquiry that can give actionable expert recommendations, as opposed to multiple coroners' inquests and recommendations that do not have the same binding influence. The patients themselves, and the public will be best served by an independent inquiry, not another internal review that changes nothing."
Phelps backed Money's calls for an independent inquiry.
"The experience of our family certainly indicates that there are obvious and big problems and nothing is changing and internal reviews seem to never be completed and results released to the public. There is a distinct lack of accountability.
"I would like to see faults identified and real change made. It's the only good thing that can now come out of my mother's death and I can't stand by and not try to do anything when I know the public and mental health patients are at risk and we are just waiting for the next unfortunate death to occur."