Perth mother who stabbed husband to death had psychotic episode

A mother who stabbed her husband to death before turning the knife on her onto her two children was in the midst of a psychotic breakdown during the attack, a court has heard. 

Perth mother Cara Lee Hall, 38, killed her husband Glenn Hall, 33, in December 2015 as he slept on the couch in their Leda home, south of Perth.

Hall stabbed her husband 16 times and then attacked her two children, aged four and 11, who suffered knife wounds, WA Today reported.

Perth mother Cara Lee Hall, 38, (pictured together) killed husband Glenn Hall, 33, in December 2015 as he slept on the couch in their Leda home south of Perth

When facing the Supreme Court in 2017, Hall plead not guilty to murder and two counts of attempted murder on the grounds that she was acting in self-defence because her husband had been physically and mentally abusive. 

Despite her claims, the jury found Hall guilty of murder as well as a count of attempted murder and grievous bodily harm. 

A recording of a triple zero Hall made directly after the killing was also played for the court. 

In the recording, Hall can be heard telling the operator that she believed her husband was going to kill their children and sell them into the sex trade. 

‘I just killed my husband. He was trying to kill my kids,’ she was recorded saying. 

During a Supreme Court hearing on Friday, ahead of Hall’s sentencing later this year, psychiatrist Dr Gosia Wojnarowska concluded that Hall was indeed psychotic at the time of the killing.

Hall stabbed her husband 16 times and then attacked her two children, aged four and 11, who suffered knife wounds

Hall stabbed her husband 16 times and then attacked her two children, aged four and 11, who suffered knife wounds

Hall plead not guilty to murder and two counts of attempted murder on the grounds that she was acting in self defence but a jury at the Supreme Court found her guilty of murder, one count of attempted murder and grievous bodily harm

Hall plead not guilty to murder and two counts of attempted murder on the grounds that she was acting in self defence but a jury at the Supreme Court found her guilty of murder, one count of attempted murder and grievous bodily harm

Dr Wojnarowska told the court there were range of factors which caused Hall’s condition including PTSD which was a result of life long trauma. 

‘It’s very difficult to treat, it requires long-term psychological intervention,’ she said of Hall’s condition. 

She also said she found enough evidence to suggest there was no doubt that Hall was suffering an episode of psychosis, which included paranoid delusions in the lead up to the killing. 

Dr Gosia Wojnarowska was brought in to examine the case as an independent psychiatrist and concluded that Hall was indeed psychotic at the time of the killing

Dr Gosia Wojnarowska was brought in to examine the case as an independent psychiatrist and concluded that Hall was indeed psychotic at the time of the killing

The court also heard that Hall had actively sought help from Western Australia mental health authorities for years.

Dr Wojnarowska said she was unable to rule out any role cannabis may have played in Hall’s psychosis. 

Hall had also confided in Dr Wojnarowska that she had injected methamphetamine a week and a half prior to the killing and had heard a voice in her head telling her ‘one, two, three, go’ before the attack on her family. 

The hearing is being presided over by Justice Michael Corboy and is set to continue. 

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