The Tasmanian Government has ordered an urgent investigation into the process of discharging prisoners following the case of a mentally ill man who stabbed a Hobart woman to death a day after his release from jail.
Daryl Royston Wayne Cook, 36, was found not guilty, on mental health grounds, of murdering grocer Voula Delios, 68, the day after he was released from Hobart's Risdon Prison in 2016.
The judge ordered Mr Cook be detained in a secure mental health facility indefinitely.
Health Minister Michael Ferguson and Corrections Minister Elise Archer released a statement confirming they had asked for a review of discharge practices.
"The Government has written to the secretaries of the Departments of Health and Justice and asked them to examine processes and procedures relating to prisoner psychiatric care assessments and prisoner discharges as an urgent priority," the statement said.
"It is expected that this work will also involve consulting clinical expertise as required."
The trial of Mr Cook heard that he was diagnosed with schizophrenia, and experienced delusions that God wanted him to kill Mrs Delios because she was a heathen.
However, the court heard his condition was not taken seriously by prison staff, who believed he was faking symptoms.
"While there will be a coronial investigation, it is appropriate that further work is done as an urgent priority to ensure that psychiatric care assessments and prisoner discharge processes are as rigorous as they can be," the statement said.
After the verdict, union and prison advocates called for an urgent review, warning of repeat killings unless the issues were addressed.
