Cy Walsh detained for killing father Phil

Cy Walsh, the son and killer of former Adelaide Crows coach Phil Walsh, has been formally detained in a mental health facility.

Cy Walsh, son of Adelaide Crows AFL coach Phil Walsh

Cy Walsh has been detained in a psychiatric institution for killing his father, Phil Walsh. (AAP)

Cy Walsh will remain in a psychiatric institution for killing his father, former Adelaide Crows coach Phil Walsh.

The 28-year-old was previously found not guilty of murder because he was mentally incompetent when he fatally stabbed his father at the family home in Adelaide.

The death of the popular coach in July 2015 rocked the AFL football and the Australian community more broadly but the case is now likely to be put to rest for some time.

In the Supreme Court on Tuesday, Justice Anne Bampton formally committed Walsh to detention in an Adelaide mental health facility until further order.

Walsh appeared in court via video link in a neat white shirt with a light-blue tie and his dark hair parted but he did not speak during the brief hearing.

The judge could have released him on licence but after reviewing psychiatric and next-of-kin reports she accepted the Crown's recommendation to detain him.

Walsh was suffering a psychotic episode as a result of undiagnosed schizophrenia when he stabbed his father 20 times with a hunting knife, the court ruled in September.

Court documents have revealed the extent of his mental health problem, which started in 2011 as he was backpacking around the world.

He heard voices he believed were from another dimension, and at times he believed his father was the devil.

But he was not intoxicated by any drugs at the time of the stabbing, forensic reports showed.

Phil's wife Meredith said that she and her daughter were left heartbroken but she will continue to love and support her son.

She said there was a lack of information available to families like hers, calling for increased mental health research and awareness.

"We now all live the devastating consequences of a mental illness that was not understood," she said in her victim impact statement.


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Source: AAP


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