“A lot of clinical information suggests he is still displaying the symptoms of psychosis,” Dr Eagle said.
Acting Justice Hidden said the mental health element means this killing is “not the typical case, sadly all too common, of violence inflicted upon a woman by a controlling, jealous and suspicious husband”.
Mourad Kerollos was found not guilty of murdering his wife Gigi in 2019.
“This tragic killing was plainly the product of mental illness in circumstances meeting the legal elements of the defence,” Acting Justice Hidden said. “Accordingly, I find the accused not guilty by reason of mental illness.”
Mr Kerollos will now be detained and treated.
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Reading a victim impact statement, the couple’s son Paul Kerollos, 26, said his mother was “loving, caring, selfless, honest, loyal, brave, and so much more” and no words he said could do her justice.
“I keep asking myself ‘is there anything we could have done to prevent this?’” Paul Kerollos said. “Is he even sorry for what he did? There has been no sign of remorse, no understanding of the impact.”
In a statement, a group of Mrs Kerollos’s friends said she lost her innocent life in a “senseless and brutal” way.
“Gigi had the kindest heart and purest soul. She was completely selfless, always putting others ahead of herself. She lived as a devoted mother to her three amazing boys and was much-loved by everyone. She had incredible strength and a spirit that could never be crushed,” the friends said.
“The only thing that could overpower it was an unspeakable act of horrific violence ... Gigi deserved much better.”
The group said they have “extreme dissatisfaction” with the outcome of the case, which they plan to raise with Attorney General Mark Speakman.
“As long as excuses keep being made and accepted for abusive men, domestic violence and intimate partner homicide will never end,” the friends said.
Mr Kerollos’s lawyer, Samuel Shenouda, said the case was “extremely sad and tragic”. He said he cannot fathom how someone could view all the evidence considered by the court then conclude that the case was only about domestic violence.
“The fundamental and only issue in this matter was mental illness, which the accused suffered from and which unfortunately led to a life being taken,” Mr Shenouda said.
He said he hopes this case and other Supreme Court decisions can improve the understanding of such illnesses, to ensure further help can be offered before another tragedy occurs.
Georgina Mitchell is a court reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald.









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