Mental health patients escape Cumberland Hospital days before three killed

A man charged over a horror crash in Sydney’s southwest that killed two innocent people had only days earlier escaped from the same mental health facility as a man accused of stabbing three people in a “random” attack, leaving one man dead and two critically wounded. Lee Casuscelli, 60, and her passenger Maureen Crosland, 84, were on their way to collect a relative’s wedding dress when another car ploughed into their Alpha Romeo on February 14. Both women died at the scene. Police allege Luke Peter Francis, 31, punched a 25-year-old man at a petrol station in Hurstville about 10.20am before stealing the man’s red car and driving away. He allegedly led police on a pursuit through Sydney’s southwest before it was called off about 40 minutes before the crash. He has since been charged with 11 offences, including two counts each of dangerous driving occasioning death and aggravated dangerous driving occasioning death. Mr Francis was also charged with driving recklessly, driving dangerously in a police pursuit, failing to stop and assist after vehicle impact causing death, negligent driving occasioning death, driving unlicensed, not stopping at stop line at red light and assault with intent to take/drive motor vehicle. He escaped from the country’s largest mental health facility days before the deadly crash. Speaking to NewsWire, a Western Sydney Local Health District spokesman claimed Mr Francis absconded from Cumberland Hospital on February 8. “A consumer forcibly took an access card from a staff member and used it to abscond from the ward at Cumberland Hospital,” the spokesman alleged. The spokesman said NSW Police had been immediately notified about Mr Francis’ escape, but he wasn’t found and had not returned to the facility. “No record has yet been located of this consumer being returned to a NSW Health facility in response to this abscondment,” the spokesman said. “The safety of our patients and staff is a priority for Western Sydney Local Health District.” Second patient absconds from mental health facility This was the second time a Cumberland Hospital patient had escaped from the facility in the span of a few days. Setefano Mooniai Leaaetoa, 25, was charged after allegedly murdering Amammuddin Sadar, 38, and critically injuring two others, Ambika Sharma, 47, and Emre Sen, 21, at a mini mart in Merrylands on February 17. On Tuesday, NSW health authorities said Mr Leaaetoa had absconded from care while being transferred between Cumberland Hospital and Westmead Hospital on February 7 – 10 days before the fatal stabbing. “The district is aware a person alleged to be involved in the incident is a recent patient of Cumberland Hospital, which provides acute inpatient care for people with complex mental health needs,” the spokesman said. The spokesman said NSW Police had been notified and Mr Leaaetoa’s family were made aware of his escape, but “all attempts by WSLHD to contact the person were unsuccessful”. “A formal review into the person’s care and treatment will be undertaken, which will include an external senior psychiatrist,” the spokesman said. Urgent calls for NSW mental health reform The recent incidents have sparked calls for an urgent review of the NSW mental health system. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Premier Chris Minns said he was “concerned” about the incidents and agreed an investigation was required into the NSW mental health system. “These are very serious criminal charges,” he said. “As soon as we receive that report, we’ll act on it.” Mr Minns said forensic hospitals and psychiatric wards needed “the kind of security that’s in place to keep the public safe”. “The truth of the matter is, we need to keep the public safe in the circumstances where somebody has a psychiatric episode and is a danger to themselves or members of the public,” he said. “It is a deeply distressing situation and I feel terrible for the family members of those and the family of the man that was killed.” The deaths come almost two years after six people were killed at Westfield Bondi Junction in a stabbing rampage by Joel Cauchi. Dawn Singleton, Yizuan Cheng, Faraz Ahmed Tahir, Ashlee Good, Jade Young and Pikria Darchia were killed on April 13, 2024, in what is considered one of Australia’s worst massacres. Cauchi, 40, who was homeless and experienced a psychotic episode at the time of the attack, lived with schizophrenia and was not medicated when he killed the six people. He was shot dead by Inspector Amy Scott, who is credited for saving many other lives in the act. A coronial inquest into the fatal attack found several missed opportunities and systemic failures in treating Cauchi’s mental health, with NSW Coroner Teresa O’Sullivan handing down 23 recommendations. One of the recommendations includes amendments to the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists’ guidelines on schizophrenia disorders, as well as the establishment of short-term accommodation for those who are experiencing mental health issues and long-term accommodation with on-site or easily accessible mental health care. When asked about a potential failure in the state’s health system, Mr Minns said NSW had a “big mental health system” and the “pressure on that system is growing”. “Broadly speaking, NSW Health is treating more people with psychiatric illnesses and violent psychiatric illnesses than ever before,” he said. “The vast majority of those cases end up with the community safe and individuals getting help they need. “This one has gone badly wrong and we need to make sure we’re learning lessons.” When asked about the Bondi Junction attack, Mr Minns said while there were a few recommendations the state “will act on”, they were “major changes to the way the system works”. “We have invested hundreds of millions of dollars into the funding for psychiatric and mental health services in the state,” he said. “It would be unfair to say it has been ignored.” A spokesperson for Western Sydney Local Health District said: “Western Sydney Local Health District is deeply concerned by the tragic incidents in Merrylands and Camden and express our sincere sympathies to the families and the victims. “A formal review will be undertaken and will include the care and treatment of the patients alleged to be involved, and security protocols at Cumberland Hospital.”