A murder in a Gold Coast retirement village sparks debate

The brutal murder of 77 -year -old Carmel Wuth in her Southport retirement unit has prompted questions about whether aged care accommodation is appropriate for the mentally ill.

The accused, 36 year old Maurizo Perini, was living in the retirement units with the apparent support of the Schizophrenia Fellowship but has been described as a voluntary patient of the mental health service. Speaking about the crime, Health Minister Stephen Robertson admitted that Perini’s behaviour had become a concern and that he had recently placed knives under the door of his alleged victim and another resident of the hostel. Police had been called to the units over the previous weeks to deal with incidents involving the accused.

Questions have been raised about the suitability of placing a young, mentally ill patient in a community with older and physically frail residents and why he was not removed when started to exhibit threatening behaviour. Dr. Philip Morris from the Gold Coast Institute of Mental Health, says it is unlikely that staff at a hostel-type accommodation such as Trinity Gardens would have the training needed to cope with residents such as Mr Perini.