Prosecutors accept Cy Walsh's not guilty plea, conceding he was 'mentally incompetent' when he stabbed AFL coach father to death
Prosecutors have accepted Cy Walsh's not guilty plea, conceding he was mentally incompetent at the time his father, former Adelaide Crows coach Phil Walsh was killed.
Cy, 27, stabbed his father to death in the family home during the early hours of Friday July 3, 2015.
He formally pleaded not guilty to the murder, with his lawyer reasoning mental health as a basis for the not guilty plea.
Two psychiatrists have assessed Cy and the DPP ordered a third report, before the decision to accept his not guilty plea on Friday, where Cy faced the Supreme Court via videolink from prison.
Prosecutor Lucy Boord told the hearing the DPP will concede Cy was mentally incompetent when he killed his father.
She added that prosecutors would make similar concessions to the objective elements of the case when the court reconvenes next month.
"Today the prosecution advised the Supreme Court that it will not oppose the court finding Mr Cy Walsh was mentally incompetent at the time of the death of Mr Phil Walsh," the DPP said in a statement.
"The prosecution’s position has been reached after reviewing all relevant material gathered by SAPol in the course of its investigation, the reports of the forensic psychiatrists who have
examined Mr Cy Walsh and following consultation with relevant parties.
"I emphasise that no finding has yet been made by the Court," the statement read.
"The Director of Public Prosecutions has previously requested evidence to be suppressed from publication, as it was possible that Walsh could stand trial for murder."
Eighty-five witnesses statements had been tendered in the case including Adelaide Crows players and family members.
In December Cy pleaded not guilty to the murder at Adelaide Magistrates Court because of mental incompetence, he was ordered to reissue the plea.
Cy has been staying at the James Nash House mental health facility in Adelaide for the past four months.
Detectives said that they were still compiling electronic evidence and that they were still waiting on test results from Cy's hair to see if he was under the influence of drugs on the night that his father died.
The high profile coach died from multiple stab wounds, while his wife Meredith was taken to hospital and treated for a leg injury.
His death shocked the AFL world as well as the wider community, coming during his first season with the Crows after stints coaching at other AFL clubs.
The court will reconvene for a half-day hearing on September 28.
