Townsville Bulletin

Heritage- listed new home for man ‘ of unsound mind’

- TONY RAGGATT

HOME Hill hostel killer Smail Ayad is being detained as an inpatient in the high- security section of Brisbane’s heritageli­sted Park Centre for Mental Health Treatment.

But authoritie­s were unable to say yesterday how long Ayad will be detained or whether the French national will be returned to France.

A Queensland Health spokesman said: “We are aware that the Mental Health Court has determined that a man charged with the murder of two people in Home Hill in August 2016 was of unsound mind when the offence was committed.

“The judge’s decision includes a forensic order which provides for his detention in a high- security mental health facility.

“Queensland Health is un- able to comment further on this matter.”

Mental Health Court Justice Jean Dalton ruled criminal proceeding­s against Ayad be discontinu­ed and made a forensic order for him to be detained at the Park centre.

Justice Dalton reserved a decision on whether to apply a non- revocation period.

According to the state’s chief psychiatri­st policy, the Queensland Mental Health Act 2016 promotes the recovery of a person who has mental illness and the person’s ability to live in the community without the need for involuntar­y treatment and care.

Where any rights and liberties of a patient are restricted, these restrictio­ns should only be to the extent required to protect the patient’s safety and welfare or safety of others.

A psychiatri­st is required to determine Ayad’s treatment and care within seven days. An assessment and risk management committee, including a case manager, forensic liaison officer and authorised psychiatri­st, must review Ayad’s treatment and care at least twice a year.

The heritage- listed facility was built from as early as 1866, although many structures have been added over time, including a new 70- bed maximum security facility in 2002.

 ?? Smail Ayad. ??
Smail Ayad.

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