The alleged murderer of Brisbane bus driver Manmeet Sharma – who died after being set alight in a horrific attack last Friday morning – sought help for mental health issues prior to the incident, it’s been revealed.
Queensland‘s health minister Cameron Dick wouldn’t say when Anthony O’Donohue, 48, contacted a mental health service provider but did name Metro South Hospital and Health Service.
In light of this new information, Dick’s also ordered an urgent independent external investigation into the care he received, to run in conjunction with an internal review by Metro South.
“It is expected that this investigation will be completed within eight weeks,” he said in a statement. “To the extent possible, any findings and recommendations of this investigation will be released publicly.”
O’Donohue appeared in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Saturday and was remanded in custody on 13 charges relating to the murder of 29-year-old Manmeet, who was a popular figure in Brisbane’s Punjabi community and well-known as a musician.
Members of Manmeet’s family have travelled from their village in Sangrur in Punjab, north India, to collect his body – though Manmeet’s parents are yet to be told of their son’s death, according to his brother.
Amit Alisher spoke to Fairfax Media on his way to Australia, explaining he didn’t think the elderly couple could cope with the news.
“They are too old – my father is 70 – they won’t be able to take it,” he said.
Meanwhile, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given Malcolm Turnbull a call to express deep concern over Manmeet’s death amid growing suspicion the attack was a hate crime.
The lawyer for O’Donohue said his client had given no explanation for the “heinous” crime at the Moorooka bus stop.
Source: 7News.
Photo: ABC.
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