Court finds man found not criminally responsible for killing mother
A 31-year-old has been found not criminally responsible for killing his mother at a Gunnedah caravan park, just hours before he was due to see a psychiatrist.
A NSW Supreme Court has ruled that Callan Davidson is not criminally responsible for the stabbing death of his mother, Cheryl Ann Davidson, in a Gunnedah caravan park in 2024. Justice Stephen Campbell found Davidson was suffering from severe, untreated schizophrenia at the time of the crime. The court heard Davidson had been due to see a psychiatrist hours after the killing, following his mother's efforts to secure mental health assistance.
Davidson admitted to the murder but claimed his actions were driven by delusions related to the Freemasons. Forensic psychiatrists testified that he was experiencing active psychosis and command hallucinations during the incident. The court also noted that Davidson's schizophrenia had been untreated for years, which contributed to the violent outcome.
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