Peter Kemball charged with stabbing murder of caseworker Steven Douglas in Balmain apartment

Man is charged with murder after ‘stabbing his mental health caseworker to death in his apartment’

  • Peter Kemball, 40, has been charged with the murder of his case worker, 62  
  • Police were called to Kemball’s Balmain apartment on Thursday afternoon 
  • There they found body of Steven Douglas who was allegedly stabbed to death
  • Kemball was taken to hospital for surgery and charged on Friday night 

A man has been charged with murder after allegedly stabbing his mental health caseworker to death. 

Peter Kemball, 40, was arrested after police were called to his home on Nicholson Street in Balmain on Thursday afternoon. 

When officers arrived about 4pm, they discovered the body of 62-year-old Steven Douglas, a caseworker from RPA. 

Kemball was taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital under police guard, where he underwent surgery for a leg injury.

He was released and taken to Newtown Police Station about 6.35pm on Friday night, where he was charged with murder.  

Peter Kemball (pictured) has been charged with the murder of his mental health caseworker Steven Douglas 

NSW Police were called to the home on Nicholson Street in Balmain East on Thursday afternoon after concerns were raised for the welfare of those inside

NSW Police were called to the home on Nicholson Street in Balmain East on Thursday afternoon after concerns were raised for the welfare of those inside

NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association said Mr Douglas was an advocate for improvements in mental health.

‘All healthcare workers, regardless of their chosen specialty or field of work, are incredibly resilient individuals – none of them ever go to work not expecting to return home,’ association general secretary Brett Holmes said in a statement on Friday.

‘Our immediate thoughts continue to be with our member’s partner, family, friends and co-workers at this difficult time.

‘He was a very well respected mental health nurse, a mentor to his nursing colleagues and an advocate for improvements in mental health.’

Sydney Local Health District chief executive Dr Teresa Anderson informed staff with ‘much sadness’ of the ‘tragic death of one of our community mental health colleagues’.

‘This is a terrible loss for his partner, family and loved ones and is (a) devastating loss for us all,’ Dr Anderson wrote in an email. 

Kemball (pictured) was taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital under police guard where he had surgery before he was released and charged on Friday night

Kemball (pictured) was taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital under police guard where he had surgery before he was released and charged on Friday night

Health Minister Brad Hazzard and Mental Health Minister Bronnie Taylor issued a joint statement on Thursday evening following the incident.

‘We and the NSW Health family are devastated by the tragedy that has fallen upon one of our committed health care workers,’ the ministers said.

‘We extend our deepest sympathy to the family, friends, and co-workers of the victim.’

Kemball has been refused bail and will appear at Parramatta Local Court via video link on Saturday November 30. 



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