'The wind stopped': Perth man claims 'sign from God' led him to break into home, kill stranger
A Perth man who admitted killing a stranger inside her own home claims he broke into the Munster house because "the wind stopped" as he walked past, which he took as a sign from God.
Jesse de Beaux stabbed Cara Hales, 30, more than 40 times inside her bedroom around midday on December 28, 2018, after smashing a window to get into the house and grabbing a knife from the kitchen.
Jesse de Beaux is on trial accused of murdering Cara Hales, inset. Credit:Facebook
The 25-year-old has pleaded not guilty to murder due to unsoundness of mind.
During the second day of his trial in the Supreme Court of Western Australia, the court heard Mr de Beaux had a history of suffering from drug-induced psychosis, however psychiatrist Adam Brett claimed an underlying diagnosis of chronic paranoid schizophrenia was missed and never treated.
"It seems to be the ongoing narrative [that he was treated for drug-induced psychosis] and it seemed like there wasn’t enough onus on whether he had an underlying mental illness," Dr Brett said.
"Usually [people with schizophrenia] need medication and follow-up, so he didn’t get any follow-up and that’s a problem ... he had an inadequately treated psychosis."
Dr Brett, after assessing Mr de Beaux, determined he was in a psychosis and experiencing hallucinations when he killed Ms Hales and was later seen walking the streets naked and disorientated.
"On face value it seems there was no motivation, he didn’t know the victim and the whole incident just seemed bizarre," Dr Brett said.
"Unfortunately, the victim was just in the wrong place at the wrong time ... he came to the house because of the signs he’d been seeing and experiencing, the wind stopped when he got to the house and he thought it was a sign from God that he needed to go in the house.
"It makes sense when you understand his psychosis; it makes no sense on face value."
Two days before Ms Hales' death, Dr Brett said Mr de Beaux discharged himself as a voluntary patient at Graylands Hospital, where he was being treated for an earlier psychotic episode.
He was picked up later that day by police at City Beach swimming naked and taken to Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital for assessment. His whereabouts after he left the hospital is unknown.
"We don’t really know where he went from Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital," Dr Brett said. "His behaviour seems disorganised and erratic."
Jesse de Beaux.Credit:Nine News Perth
Blood tests showed Mr de Beaux had no illicit drugs or alcohol in his system when he was arrested shortly after Ms Hales’ death.
Mr de Beaux had assaulted a fellow patient at Graylands Hospital while in a psychosis, because voices told him the other man should not be allowed to use the bathroom.
On other occasions he also ran out in front of a car in a paranoid state and poured hot water over his arm because voices told him to.
While on remand in Hakea Prison awaiting trial, Mr de Beaux also excessively drank water to the point where he had to be hospitalised while in a psychotic state.
Dr Brett told the court Mr de Beaux’s treatment needs had only recently started to be adequately addressed after nearly two years in prison.
He said 20 years ago, a person like Mr de Beaux would have been observed and assessed for a longer period of time in Graylands Hospital before being discharged, however a shortage of beds put pressure on WA’s mental health system.
Ms Hales’ mother and extended family have attended the trial, which is expected to finish on Wednesday.
Heather McNeill is a senior journalist at WAtoday.