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Otago Daily Times
06-07-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Father says patient not drug tested hours before second killing
By Sam Sherwood of RNZ A mental health patient was not drug tested on the day he committed his second killing because the staffer believed he was "acting cagey", his father alleges. The man was subject to a compulsory treatment order at the time, which meant that drug screening occurred on a voluntary basis. But if he failed the test, the clinician would then need to assess whether the patient should be re-called to hospital. It was earlier revealed the man - who was made a special patient under the Mental Health Act after his first killing - was recently found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity for a second time after killing someone he believed was possessed. The details regarding either killings were unable to be published, due to an appeal against name suppression that is due to be heard by the Court of Appeal. RNZ has obtained a copy of a letter from the man's father to the presiding judge. The man's father alleged that on the day he killed for a second time, he was supposed to be drug tested. "He turned up for the appointment but was not tested because the staff member said that he was acting cagey and she didn't want to make him feel like he was being picked on. "This is a so-called health professional who observed unusual behaviour from a person with severe mental health issues and they didn't do anything about it. She didn't test him and basically allowed him to leave. A few hours later [he killed again]." The man said his son told him he had to go have a drug test "so he was expecting it, but nothing came of it". The man's second killing "could and should have been prevented," the father says. "How can someone who has previously killed another person be able to remain free when the warning signs are right there for all to see?" In the weeks leading up to the second killing, the man's mental health was "rapidly declining", a judge earlier said. He was admitted to a mental health facility following an altercation with a relative. About a week later he was released. He was having relationship problems and was using cannabis. Five days after he was released from the mental health facility, he stabbed someone to death. In his letter, he said his son had mental health issues "for most of his life". "I have attended countless appointments and meetings relating to [him] and his treatment, and I have full knowledge of the process, his medication and it's effectiveness, the downsides and how he has responded over the years. "I have met his doctors and psychiatrists and have a good understanding of the mental health system, what services are provided and some of it's failings." He discussed his son's admission to a mental health facility before the second killing when his mental health "deteriorated". He said the staff should not have released his son. The second killing was "predictable if anyone bothered to look at the warning signs and do something about it," he said. "Predictable in the sense that [he] was on a downward spiral. Maybe not predictable with the exact date and time, but the warning signs were there for the health professionals to see. To use their judgement and training and to actually do something about what they saw instead of just letting it go because it gets too hard for them." He said the health system was "not aggressive enough to make decisions". "For more than 5 years I visited [him] every night in one of their institutions, so I know full well what goes on inside the walls. There are more questions than answers. The health system had [him] in their custody and released him. A health professional saw [him] on the day he killed [again], described him as being cagey, did not do the blood test and let him go without doing anything. How? Who is accountable? How can someone who has previously killed another person be able to remain free when the warning signs are right there for all to see?" RNZ put the allegations regarding the drug test to both Health New Zealand and the Ministry of Health. Health New Zealand (HNZ) said an external review of the care the patient received leading up to their alleged offending is in progress. They did not comment on the allegations. In most situations screening for substance use occurred on a voluntary basis and could include individuals subject to detention under the Mental Health Act on Compulsory Treatment Orders, an HNZ spokesperson said. "However, screening is very much part of an individual treatment/care plan where interventions may be put in place in the event of a positive result or refusal to be tested." Director of Mental Health Dr John Crawshaw said in a statement that in circumstances like these an independent review is triggered to investigate the incident and make recommendations for changes to services and for those recommendations to be acted on. A review was still underway. "The claim of reported drug use and delays in drug testing would be most appropriately investigated by the independent review commissioned by Health New Zealand." In relation to drug testing, a Ministry of Health spokesperson said screening for substance use occurred on a voluntary basis and can include individuals subject to detention under the Mental Health Act on Compulsory Treatment Orders. "Screening is very much part of an individual treatment/care plan where interventions may be put in place in the event of a positive result or refusal to be tested. "For further background, it also depends on whether the person is on an inpatient order or a community treatment order. If the testing is part of a condition of leave on an inpatient order it can result in the leave being cancelled. If the person is on a community treatment order, the responsible clinician would then need to assess whether there is enough concern to direct the patient to be treated as an inpatient. It's important to note that this applies to people under ordinary Mental Health Act orders and there is a separate process for special patients." Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey said any serious incident, particularly one where someone was killed was a "cause of very serious concern". "That is why it is important that reviews are triggered and recommendations for changes to services are acted on. My focus is on ensuring agencies involved are putting in place the necessary changes to help prevent these incidents occurring again. "There is an external review underway, and it would be my expectation that this review will cover the care this person received leading up to the incident."
Otago Daily Times
06-07-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Patient not drug tested hours before second killing, father alleges
By Sam Sherwood of RNZ A mental health patient was not drug tested on the day he committed his second killing because the staffer believed he was "acting cagey", his father alleges. The man was subject to a compulsory treatment order at the time, which meant that drug screening occurred on a voluntary basis. But if he failed the test, the clinician would then need to assess whether the patient should be re-called to hospital. It was earlier revealed the man - who was made a special patient under the Mental Health Act after his first killing - was recently found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity for a second time after killing someone he believed was possessed. The details regarding either killings were unable to be published, due to an appeal against name suppression that is due to be heard by the Court of Appeal. RNZ has obtained a copy of a letter from the man's father to the presiding judge. The man's father alleged that on the day he killed for a second time, he was supposed to be drug tested. "He turned up for the appointment but was not tested because the staff member said that he was acting cagey and she didn't want to make him feel like he was being picked on. "This is a so-called health professional who observed unusual behaviour from a person with severe mental health issues and they didn't do anything about it. She didn't test him and basically allowed him to leave. A few hours later [he killed again]." The man said his son told him he had to go have a drug test "so he was expecting it, but nothing came of it". The man's second killing "could and should have been prevented," the father says. "How can someone who has previously killed another person be able to remain free when the warning signs are right there for all to see?" In the weeks leading up to the second killing, the man's mental health was "rapidly declining", a judge earlier said. He was admitted to a mental health facility following an altercation with a relative. About a week later he was released. He was having relationship problems and was using cannabis. Five days after he was released from the mental health facility, he stabbed someone to death. In his letter, he said his son had mental health issues "for most of his life". "I have attended countless appointments and meetings relating to [him] and his treatment, and I have full knowledge of the process, his medication and it's effectiveness, the downsides and how he has responded over the years. "I have met his doctors and psychiatrists and have a good understanding of the mental health system, what services are provided and some of it's failings." He discussed his son's admission to a mental health facility before the second killing when his mental health "deteriorated". He said the staff should not have released his son. The second killing was "predictable if anyone bothered to look at the warning signs and do something about it," he said. "Predictable in the sense that [he] was on a downward spiral. Maybe not predictable with the exact date and time, but the warning signs were there for the health professionals to see. To use their judgement and training and to actually do something about what they saw instead of just letting it go because it gets too hard for them." He said the health system was "not aggressive enough to make decisions". "For more than 5 years I visited [him] every night in one of their institutions, so I know full well what goes on inside the walls. There are more questions than answers. The health system had [him] in their custody and released him. A health professional saw [him] on the day he killed [again], described him as being cagey, did not do the blood test and let him go without doing anything. How? Who is accountable? How can someone who has previously killed another person be able to remain free when the warning signs are right there for all to see?" RNZ put the allegations regarding the drug test to both Health New Zealand and the Ministry of Health. Health New Zealand (HNZ) said an external review of the care the patient received leading up to their alleged offending is in progress. They did not comment on the allegations. In most situations screening for substance use occurred on a voluntary basis and could include individuals subject to detention under the Mental Health Act on Compulsory Treatment Orders, an HNZ spokesperson said. "However, screening is very much part of an individual treatment/care plan where interventions may be put in place in the event of a positive result or refusal to be tested." Director of Mental Health Dr John Crawshaw said in a statement that in circumstances like these an independent review is triggered to investigate the incident and make recommendations for changes to services and for those recommendations to be acted on. A review was still underway. "The claim of reported drug use and delays in drug testing would be most appropriately investigated by the independent review commissioned by Health New Zealand." In relation to drug testing, a Ministry of Health spokesperson said screening for substance use occurred on a voluntary basis and can include individuals subject to detention under the Mental Health Act on Compulsory Treatment Orders. "Screening is very much part of an individual treatment/care plan where interventions may be put in place in the event of a positive result or refusal to be tested. "For further background, it also depends on whether the person is on an inpatient order or a community treatment order. If the testing is part of a condition of leave on an inpatient order it can result in the leave being cancelled. If the person is on a community treatment order, the responsible clinician would then need to assess whether there is enough concern to direct the patient to be treated as an inpatient. It's important to note that this applies to people under ordinary Mental Health Act orders and there is a separate process for special patients." Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey said any serious incident, particularly one where someone was killed was a "cause of very serious concern". "That is why it is important that reviews are triggered and recommendations for changes to services are acted on. My focus is on ensuring agencies involved are putting in place the necessary changes to help prevent these incidents occurring again. "There is an external review underway, and it would be my expectation that this review will cover the care this person received leading up to the incident."
Otago Daily Times
03-07-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Minister briefed on death of baby found in bin
A police investigator inspects a set of bins at the scene in Renall St Auckland. Photo: RNZ By Sam Sherwood of RNZ The Minister for Mental Health has been briefed on the death of a baby found in a wheelie bin in Auckland. A 32-year-old woman has been charged with interfering with human remains between June 24 and 30. Police have been investigating since officers located the body of a newborn baby in a wheelie bin outside an address on Renall St, Freemans Bay on Tuesday night. A spokesperson for Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey confirmed to RNZ his office had been made aware of the case under the "no surprises policy". "The Minister acknowledges this tragedy, and his thoughts are with all involved," the spokesperson said. Doocey was unable to comment further at this time. Health New Zealand (HNZ) acting northern region deputy chief executive Mike Shepherd said in a statement HNZ would not be commenting on the specifics of the case for privacy reasons. "We acknowledge this very sad situation and offer our sympathies to the whānau and community," he said. "We can say that HNZ routinely reviews the care it provides when any serious event occurs." An Oranga Tamariki spokesperson said as the matter was before the courts and subject to an active police investigation, they were unable to comment. A spokesperson for the Minister for Children Karen Chhour said it would be inappropriate to comment at this time. On Thursday, Detective Inspector Scott Beard said a post-mortem examination was carried out on the baby on Wednesday, the results of which are still pending. Police were still investigating at the property on Renall St. "Our enquiries remain ongoing and it will take some time for a thorough investigation to be completed," Beard said. "We are continuing to ask for those in the community that might have information or CCTV footage that could assist us to get in touch." The woman is due to appear on July 31 and enter a plea. Until then, she has been voluntarily remanded in custody and given interim name suppression. Beard earlier said the case was a "tragedy for everyone concerned". "There is a person's wellbeing to consider here alongside the investigation, so we will ensure the woman gets the support she needs." Anyone with information that could assist the investigation, is asked to make a report via 105, using the file number 250630/9878 and quote 'Operation Yarrow'. Alternatively, information can be provided anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111 or
Otago Daily Times
19-06-2025
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
Family of woman killed by mental health patient say they feel 'forgotten'
By Sam Sherwood of RNZ A man whose wife was murdered by a forensic mental health patient three years ago has not heard from authorities for more than a year and says his family feels "forgotten". The Minister of Mental Health says the level of contact is unacceptable, and has reinforced his expectations that the family would be regularly updated and provided support by Health New Zealand. Zakariye Mohamed Hussein stabbed Laisa Waka Tunidau to death as she walked home from work on 25 June 2022. Hussein was on community leave at the time of the killing. Two reviews were ordered, one into Hussein's care, and another looking at Canterbury District Mental Health Services. The mother-of-four's husband Nemani Tunidau met with staff from Hillmorton Hospital in early 2024. He says it was the first and last time he has heard from them. He told RNZ his family felt "forgotten". "It just makes me angry and feel that they don't want to blame themselves for what has happened to my wife. "We are suffering from loneliness, especially the children." He wants compensation for HNZ's "carelessness that caused the death of my beloved wife". In October last year another mental health patient Elliot Cameron murdered pensioner Faye Phelps at her Christchurch home. It has since been revealed that Cameron killed his brother in 1975. He was found not guilty by reason of insanity and ordered to be a special patient. Correspondence released to RNZ under the Official Information Act revealed that on 24 April, a principal advisor at the Ministry of Health emailed the manager of media relations at the Ministry of Health and the Director of Mental Health Dr John Crawshaw about the report into Canterbury District Mental Health Services and media coverage of family experience. The email included a link to an article written by this journalist while at the New Zealand Herald. The article from January 2024 was an interview with Tunidau, who said he had not heard from authorities since his wife's death 18 months earlier. Dr Crawshaw replied saying: "This reinforces the need to discuss how the contact with the family will be managed." The principal advisor agreed and said it had to be a "key priority" for the next fortnight's conversations with Health New Zealand and with ministers. "No one should be exposed on this - including the families affected by both incidents. "It's partly why I think an approach to the coroner's office is useful, too. Given the patchy family engagement, I think we should be leading the best practice - the coronial file will have a case manager who should be in regular contact with the family. That case manager would appreciate a heads-up of the report publication and surrounding media coverage." Phelps' daughter Karen Phelps said she and her brother had a meeting at Hillmorton on 18 December. Since then, they had received one email that had been forwarded on by police from Canterbury Specialist Mental Health Services general manager Vicki Dent on 14 March. Dent said the independent review into Cameron's care was "progressing well". "The panel were onsite at the end of February (a little later than originally planned) and have completed much of their information gathering. They are now working through the analysis, findings and recommendations. "This is taking a little longer than we had originally hoped, but it is important that this is completed thoroughly." Dent was unable to give a "definitive timeframe" for when the review would be completed, but said she would keep the family updated. Dent said she was stepping away from the general manager role, and said the director of nursing would be the point of contact going forward. Phelps told RNZ it was "extremely disappointing" that Health NZ had "not been keeping our family better informed". "The fact we have had to take the lead on seeking information obviously just adds to our trauma and stress. "I fear their independent internal investigation is taking the same track as the Laisa Waka Tunidau investigation that many years later has still not been finalised or the details released. In my view that cannot be seen as anything other than a blatant disregard for the families and a complete reluctance to release findings to the public." She said the longer it took for reports to be completed "the longer the public is at risk". "The fact we feel we have to fight to try to get the findings of the report released in a timely manner is shameful. "For me it is also a stark indication of Hillmorton's generally incompetent processes, which have resulted in these unnecessary deaths in the first place." In response to questions from RNZ, Minister of Mental Health Matt Doocey said the level of contact Tunidau received was unacceptable. "After any family has sadly gone through the tragedy such as what the Tunidau family have sadly experienced, I would expect Health New Zealand would be regularly updating the family and providing the needed support. "I have reinforced this expectation to Health NZ that they will get in touch with the family to ask how they can better support them going forward and have reinforced I do not find the level of contact described as acceptable." Health New Zealand spokesperson Phil Grady said in a statement to RNZ that HNZ always made contact with families following "serious events" to help provide answers where they could. "We have done this in both cases, however we recognise there is always room for improvement in our communication with families." In some cases, families choose to communicate with HNZ through their lawyer or the police. "Following serious events such as these we undertake a review and this process can be lengthy. During the review process we are often limited in what we can share with families without compromising the independence of the review. During this period we do offer family liaison support where appropriate. "We are making contact with the families' preferred representative to offer an update and a further opportunity to meet." HNZ was also refreshing national guidelines to support improved communication with families following serious incidents. "We are always available and encourage families to reach out to us if it is helpful to them." A Ministry of Health spokesperson said the ministry recognised the importance of keeping families informed in these circumstances. "The ministry plans to soon be in contact with both the Tunidau family and the Phelps family as part of the arrangements involved in finalising a report into systemic issues within local mental health services, including forensic services, which was sparked in part by the tragic death of Laisa Waka Tunidau." Director of Mental Health Dr John Crawshaw said he acknowledged both families' concerns and he intended to meet with both families face to face once the report was complete - should they wish for this to happen.
RNZ News
10-06-2025
- RNZ News
Mental health patient who murdered pensioner jailed for life
Hillmorton patient Elliot Cameron has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of 83-year-old Frances Anne Phelps in October last year. National crime correspondent Sam Sherwood spoke to Charlotte Cook.
