2 days ago
Mother of man killed by Yatala prison cellmate tells court she feels let down by authorities
The mother of a man with mental illness who was killed by his prison cellmate two years ago has told South Australia's Supreme Court that she feels "let down by the government".
Earlier this year, Benjamin Anthony Shuman, 35, was found not guilty by way of mental incompetence of the murder of 52-year-old Jason Douglas Wright in June 2023.
Mr Shuman was arrested and charged with murder on June 17 after Mr Wright was found dead in his cell at Yatala Labour Prison in Adelaide's north.
Justice Anne Bampton previously recorded a finding that the elements of murder were met, but that Mr Shuman was mentally incompetent at the time.
During a brief hearing on Monday, a prosecutor read a victim impact statement on behalf of Mr Wright's mother which detailed her frustrations at how her son's mental illness was dealt with in the prison system.
"We have been let down by the government and the departments of mental health through to correctional services," Frances Wright wrote.
"Where is the duty of care when an acutely mentally unwell person … on remand with no previous convictions, is incarcerated in high security prison … then placed in a cell with inadequate supervision with somebody also suffering mental illness?
"Why was he not placed somewhere safe, and where his mental health could be maintained and supported?
"This is a serious issue seen as a violation of a person's rights."
Ms Wright went on to detail the struggles she faced for "35-plus years" dealing with her son's mental health issues.
"Over this time my input regarding his mental health was not taken seriously," she said.
"Mental illness is a medical condition, but it is stigmatised, leading to misconceptions and discrimination."
Ms Wright said she hoped "that other families don't have to go through this trauma caused by mismanagement".
"Some things need to change and be addressed," she wrote.
Ms Wright said that, given her understanding of mental illness, she did have "a compassionate understanding", but that it was "hard to forgive what has happened".
A prosecutor told the court two psychological reports found "the defendant's risk of relapse and reoffending in the community remains significant without the appropriate supports and supervision".
Defence barrister Casey Isaacs, for Mr Shuman, said his client is "in a far better mental state then he has been in the past", and apologised to Mr Wright's family on his behalf.
He also said Mr Shuman is "open to rehabilitation".
Justice Bampton remanded Mr Shuman to a limiting term of life at psychiatric facility James Nash House — which equates to the same amount of time he would be sentenced to if he'd been found guilty of murder.
Acting SA Premier Susan Close said, although she did not "know the circumstances" of the case, she had "no doubt that it will be looked into very carefully".
"It sounds absolutely … a heartbreaking tragedy. I feel very much for the mother and all my sympathy is with her," she said.
"When we run our prisons, we try to run them with the best interests of all of the people living there at heart and the idea that this tragedy has happened is very distressing.
A Department for Correctional Services spokesperson said the "circumstances surrounding Mr Wright's death will be the subject of a coronial inquiry".
"The death of Mr Wright is a sad and tragic event, and the department extends its sympathies to his family and friends," they said.
