The South Australian Supreme Court has today formally ruled Cy Walsh not guilty of murdering his father Phil Walsh by reason of mental incompetence.
Back in August, prosecutors indicated they would accept an argument of mental incompetence for Cy, who repeatedly stabbed his father Phil, at the time the senior coach of the Adelaide Football Club, on July 3rd, 2015.
Justice Ann Bampton today formally found Cy not guilty of murder, ruling that while it was accepted that Cy did kill his Dad, he was not criminally responsible due to his mental state at the time.
27-year-old Cy was detained in a high-security psychiatric facility after he was arrested and charged last year. Under South Australian law, Cy will now be placed on a lifetime psychiatric supervision order.
A victim impact statement was read to the court on behalf of Phil’s wife and Cy’s mother, Meredith Walsh.
“My heart remains broken. Our daughter is devastated by the loss of her father. Our son Cy is also shattered by what has happened, and has to live with the consequences of his illness, an illness that has destroyed our loving family.”
Many of the details of the case remain under suppression orders, but Justice Bampton is expected to review those orders later today.
Phil Walsh’s death sparked widespread and unprecedented mourning and tributes throughout the AFL community, particularly within both the Adelaide and Port Adelaide football clubs, who he was heavily involved with in the years leading up to his death.
Source: ABC News.
Photo: Nine News.
