Vic murder a week after psych ward release

A Victorian man who killed his partner while on parole was released from a psychiatric ward just a week before her death.

Margaret Burton, 40, was killed at her Hoppers Crossing home, west of Melbourne, in June 2009.

Her partner, 37-year-old Jason Hawkins, was charged with her murder but committed suicide before he could stand trial.

A coronial inquest into Ms Burton's death heard Hawkins killed Ms Burton by cutting her throat with a meat cleaver.

Counsel assisting the inquiry Simon McGregor said Hawkins was on parole at the time of the killing, and had recently been admitted to Werribee Mercy Hospital's psychiatric ward.

Under cross examination, treating psychiatrist Dr Ashok Singh agreed there were reports Ms Burton was concerned about Hawkins' violent moods and tendency to carry weapons.

However, Dr Singh said Hawkins had calmed down in the days after being admitted to hospital.

"There was no reason to hold him in hospital," Dr Singh told the inquest on Monday.

Mr McGregor said Hawkins and Ms Burton had first met when she was working as a psychologist and he was in prison.

Ms Burton's friend Wendy Patterson said Hawkins had been behaving strangely in the days leading up to the killing.

"Jason was freaking her out," she told the Victorian Coroners Court.

Ms Patterson said Hawkins had once made Ms Burton pull her car over as they were driving together.

"He thought she had a body in the boot of her car," she said.

Mr McGregor said the four-day inquest would examine the specific details of the case, and not the entire parole system.

Earlier on Monday, Victorian Coroner Judge Ian Gray confirmed there would be an inquest into the death of Sarah Cafferkey, who was last year stabbed to death by a man previously jailed for murder.

* Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or MensLine Australia 1300 78 99 78.