Man not guilty of murder remains in jail

A former student of an elite Melbourne school, who has been found not guilty of murdering a homeless man because of a mental illness, must stay in prison.

A young Melbourne man found not guilty of murder on the grounds of mental impairment will remain in prison for at least two more weeks because there's nowhere else for him to go.

Easton George Woodhead, 20, stabbed homeless man Morgan Wayne "Mouse" Perry to death in January last year but was found by a jury to have a defence of mental illness.

During Woodhead's trial, the court heard he believed he could make himself immortal by injecting himself with printer ink and that he thought his father was a werewolf.

He also thought he was God, that he had a connection to the devil and could receive messages through his Xbox, defence barrister Michael Tovey SC told the Victorian Supreme Court.

Woodhead had been smoking marijuana and playing computer games for hours in a city apartment his mother funded before going to Enterprize Park, where Mr Perry lived.

The 42-year-old had stolen Woodhead's motorbike, and Woodhead had wanted to retrieve it.

A neighbour who had been playing video games with the former Melbourne Grammar student said he seemed "normal" before the stabbing on the morning of January 5, 2014.

But when Woodhead got to the park and saw his motorcycle under some blankets he told Mr Perry he had just discovered his father was a werewolf.

Woodhead demanded Mr Perry and others in the park help him start his bike and began throwing around Mr Perry's possessions when he refused.

Woodhead then stabbed Mr Perry so violently the victim's hand was nearly sliced off.

Mr Perry was admitted to The Alfred Hospital where he was pronounced dead from blood loss caused by multiple stab wounds.

After his arrest, Woodhead pleaded not guilty to murder on the grounds of mental impairment.

During Woodhead's murder trial, the court heard he suffered from schizophrenia.

After being found not guilty of murder on the grounds of mental impairment Justice Jane Dixon heard there were no available beds at the Thomas Embling forensic hospital.

She remanded Woodhead in custody until November 16, when she will hear submissions on where he should go next.


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Source: AAP



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